Chicken of the Sea Deal.

Chicken of the Sea Deal: The parent firm of San Diego-based Chicken of the Sea International acquired shrimp importing firm Empress International Ltd. for an undisclosed price last week. Thai Union International's purchase will increase Chicken of the Sea's revenues by about $220 million, giving it annual sales of about $550 million.

Empress, based in Long Island, N.Y., and with 57 employees, imports frozen shrimp and shellfish primarily under the brand name Xcellent.

Chicken of the Sea, with 80 employees locally and 2,500 employees worldwide, is one of the largest canners of seafood, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams mackerel, and sardines. It is the top ranked seller of canned salmon and No. 3 in canned tuna.