Gandy Seafood Family Business is the oldest open seafood market in Bay County, Florida Established in Panama City, Florida in 1955. It all started with Melvin Gandy, Charles Gandy great grandfather, back in the early 50’s. Melvin ran a produce truck up and down the Gulf Coast and quickly learned that there was a huge demand for seafood. He purchased his own truck and soon business had him running fresh seafood from Gloucester, Massachusetts to Brownsville, Texas.
In 1955 he opened a fish market in St. Andrews Bay. His sons Kenyon and Buddy took over the business and expanded it into a fish processing plant. Today they have been in St. Andrews on Hwy 98 for nearly 40 years, Buddy Gandy retired at age 81 and still visits the market from time to time. Buddy Gandy Seafood Market is open, owned and operated by Kenyon Gandy, Charles Gandy’s cousin.
Through the years our customers keep us as their fresh seafood market choice and for the love of seafood, family and tradition.
1. They appreciate our customer service and knowledge of the seafood industry.
2. They benefit from knowing that our source of seafood is fresh and local.
3. Comfort in knowing that we have long term relationships with local fishermen and decades of knowledge in the industry.
4. Our name is synonymous with the Seafood Industry because of Gandy Seafood standards, high demand for quality, variety, years of experience and friendship.
Charles and Chantel Gandy started in the seafood business by opening a local seafood restaurant and oyster bar in Panama City. Quickly it became a local’s hangout for boat captains and sports fisherman to get together, eat great food, drink and tell lies.
After a few years in the restaurant industry, we were purchased by a well-established company who had a beach location but wanted a in town local hangout for a second location. After sitting on the couch for a about two weeks, we talked to Buddy Gandy, Chuck’s grandfather about coming into the family seafood business and he suggested we make a route heading North where there was not a good supply of fresh seafood.
We took Buddy’s advice, we started by booking spots in various farmers markets (making friends and connections), after lots of driving and learning from years of experience and hearing from many customers that they wish we would open a permanent location year-round and saying they wish there was one in their area promising they would be there every day. Realizing the need, just like Melvin Gandy years ago, we listened to our customers and friends and we opened our first free standing location (2012 in Tennessee), we wanted to offer our products in many locations eventually lead us to franchising and here we are today.
Several things that set Gandy Seafood Cajun X Market apart from any competitors is we are a seafood market with a flare. 1. What makes us unique is having our tried-and-true tested soups, dips, sauces and recipes that have become so popular that our Gandy Gourmet Line is offered in over fifty specialty retail stores along the Gulf Coast. 2. Gandy Seafood Market is the only seafood company that has its own seafood process facility and delivers its own products to its own markets every week. 3. We have to provide quality product because our name, brand and reputation is at stake. 4. We provide years of experience and knowledge qualifying your business as a reliable and dependable seafood source from a name that can be trusted. 5. Offering prepared hot meals, daily specials, live products, seasonal products, special holiday goods and a Cajun Favorites line.
Charles Gandy is the Fourth generation of Gandy’s in the Seafood Industry and this is where the new chapter begins introducing Gandy Seafood Cajun X Market (Franchise). Charles and Chantel Gandy created the franchise in dreams of following the Gandy Seafood tradition and offering our way of life and fresh seafood catch to the pubic anytime they want it where they live, not just when they come to the Gulf Coast on vacation. Whether it be a family reunion fish fry or a crawfish boil in the back yard with family and friends, our passion is to bring Gandy Seafood brand to your community.
