The Fortune Factor with Founder Sean O'Scannlain
Every superhero has an origin story—and so does every business. In the case of Fortune Fish & Gourmet, that story begins with Sean O’Scannlain, who wanted to create a one-stop shop for restaurants and retailers to source the best and freshest seafood in the Chicagoland area.
Fortune Favors the Bold
Sean began his career in the seafood industry at Chicago Fish House, which was once the nation’s largest seafood distributor. He then moved to The Plitt Company, where, as President, he helped the company grow significantly. In 2001, O'Scannlain left The Plitt Company with a clear vision: to build the Midwest's leading seafood and specialty food distributor, offering unmatched variety, service, and freshness.
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In June of that year, Sean founded Fortune Fish & Gourmet in Bensenville, Illinois. The company’s name pays tribute to his great-great-grandfather, Peter Fortune, an Irish immigrant who founded the Fortune Brothers Brewing Company in Chicago in 1866. Putting a family name on the masthead tapped into his deep connections to the local food industry and revived the legacy.
The Team
Sean brought together a team of seafood professionals, including co-founder Mark Gorogianis, and several key associates, amassing over 100 years of combined seafood industry experience among the top management. This early team set the bar high with their relentless pursuit of quality, and they established the ethos that still shapes all we do at Fortune.
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The Vision
Sean’s vision has always been quality, first, last, and always. By working only with suppliers that are philosophically, ethically, and morally aligned with Fortune’s values, Sean established real partners who see the bigger picture beyond the transaction.
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Sustainability is a pillar central to Fortune’s mission. Sean always recognized that the oceans must be managed properly and took that responsibility seriously. Fortune continues to protect this precious resource and preserve its bounty for the future.
Sean built Fortune with the attitude that customers are partners—not just for a sale, but for a lifetime. The team strives to contribute to the success of every restaurant, hotel, country club, and retailer that Fortune serves.
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From its modest beginnings, Fortune Fish & Gourmet rapidly grew to become the Midwest’s leader in premium seafood and gourmet products. As the company expands through hard work and strategic acquisitions, Sean’s pride in the Fortune family and its accomplishments is evident when he talks about it.
Today, nearly 25 years later, his startup company employs over 1,600 people and operates multiple facilities across the Midwest, Northeast, and Southern United States.
