Bill Barry
Bill Barry is the Chairman and CEO of Barry Group Inc. based in Corner Brook. A significant player in the fishing industry, Bill Barry’s companies impact economies locally, nationally and internationally. While the Barry family has been involved in fish harvesting since the 1830’s, Bill’s vision for new business opportunities has resulted in company diversification domestically and internationally.
Today, the Barry Group has 11 plants in Newfoundland and Labrador and more in New Brunswick. In Atlantic Canada, there are approximately 3,000 Barry Group employees.
The Barry group operates companies in Iceland and has marketing outlets in Russia and China. Their products are sold in over 20 countries. A true family business, four of Bill’s sons and one daughter have begun the fifth generation to work in the industry.
Bill Barry has been defined as a risk taker. He has created large scale operations and continues to expand in a competitive marketplace and in a sector that has experienced many challenges. Yet, Bill Barry has had huge success. His is the most diverse seafood company in Atlantic Canada. The company’s overall tonnage is greater than that of any company in Atlantic Canada - over 80,000 metric tons of wild and aquaculture seafood products a year. Success has been driven by his ability to recognize opportunities and then do what needs to be done to make things happen. He utilizes advance technologies and harvests and processes many diverse species.
Bill Barry is a recipient of the Federal government’s Exporter of the Year award and is an advocate for the industry; Bill Barry is also a supporter of his community. He brought the Triathlon World Cup and the Ironman 70.3 k challenge to Corner Brook. An avid sportsman, he is frequently seen swimming, biking and cross-country skiing on the trails that he was part of creating.
Bill Barry rarely turns down an opportunity to speak to student groups – he has addressed graduating class at Queen’s University, students at Memorial University and younger students. Entrepreneurship and melding broad liberal arts with practical skills are topics he is fond of. Perhaps, drawing in his Liberal Arts degree from StFX in Nova Scotia.
Bill Barry, a risk taker whose energy and drive has resulted in incredible business success, is indeed a worthy inductee of the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.