In the Spanish city of Vigo, home to Europe’s largest fishing port and described as “the most important port for the commercialization of fish for human consumption on the continent, and a central point for trading in fish at European and world level”, Gabriel López Pose founded the startup Yantén Vegan Food.
Using the tagline “The future of the sea,” Yantén’s products are said to mimic the taste and texture of seafood offering sustainable food products at competitive prices.
“We want to reduce the stress on the world’s oceans through overfishing. According to the FAO, 90% of fish stocks are fully exploited or overfished, which means we are already taking all we can from the oceans (and in some cases, more) while demand for seafood continues to rise,” argues Yantén.
Starting with favorites
After two years of the R&D phase to achieve the right textures and flavors using fava beans, the startup first launched Yantuna, a tuna alternative made with soy. The tuna alternative comes presented in a glass jar (a 500g container is coming) and can be used in cold and hot dishes, including the popular empanada Gallega (a local traditional pie).
In addition, Yantén has developed and launched calamari rings, vegan sticks with hake flavor (which are gluten-free), and salmon burgers for those looking to enjoy the experience of eating fish without harming marine life.
The vegan startup’s options are available in numerous organic and health food stores, and specialized restaurants in Galicia and throughout the country. The company plans to expand production to compete for listings in leading supermarkets.
Spain is Europe’s fourth largest market for plant-based foods, with sales of around €500 million between 2020 and 2022, according to the GFI. Verónica Larco Jiménez, ProVeg Spain’s communication director, says that the plant-based sector in Spain will continue to grow as consumers are more informed and environmentally aware these days.
“We are a company committed to sustainability and the environment, making responsible use of all the resources we have available. We offer the best plant-based seafood to those who wish to maintain our oceans healthy and full of fish,” states the company.
