South Carolina-based Lowcountry Oyster Company (LowCo.) has grown exponentially since Trey McMillan founded the sustainable oyster farm in 2017 in the ACE Basin. Now, as the state’s largest oyster farm, LowCo. harvests millions of oysters annually—and McMillan has no plans of slowing down. Expansion is on the horizon as LowCo. breaks ground on its latest venture, a 6.4 million dollar project that will bring at least 30 new jobs with it.
Construction is officially underway on LowCo.’s “Oyster Outpost,” a state-of-the-art Seafood processing and cross-dock facility in Green Pond, SC. Located just over an hour from Downtown Charleston and only 30 minutes from I-95, LowCo. hopes to open its doors to other seafood producers and buyers to draw interest from wholesalers and trucking lines by the end of 2024.
This facility will have a state-of-the-art chilled water wet storage system and climate-controlled processing and holding areas – boasting over 10,000 square feet of refrigerated space – making it the first of its kind in the state. The new machines will allow LowCo. to go from processing 5,000 oysters to 20,000 oysters an hour. McMillan hopes to increase LowCo.’s production and sales tenfold, aiming to deliver more fresh South Carolina oysters to shellfish lovers nationwide.
Lowcountry Oyster Company also plans to expand into a new-build retail space in West Ashley in the near future.