Shrimp

Beleaf

© Beleaf
Products & Launches

Beleaf Unveils New Plant-Based Shrimp and Soy-Based Beef

Beleaf presented new plant-based protein products at Expo West last week at the Anaheim Convention Center. The company featured a range of plant-based alternatives, including seafood options and a shelf-stable soybean-based beef slice. Among the showcased products was Beleaf’s breaded shrimp, a shellfish-free option designed for consumers with seafood allergies. The company also displayed other plant-based seafood alternatives, including salmon and tuna. A key addition to the lineup was the Soybean Beef Slice, designed to replicate the texture of beef. The shelf-stable product has an 18-month shelf life and was presented in both its dry form and fully prepared. Other Beleaf offerings at the event included plant-based bacon, mini drumsticks, and non-breaded shrimp. Strengthening brand presence Beleaf’s attendance at Expo West follows its 2024 partnership …

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Mind Blown crispy shrimp

© Mind Blown
Products & Launches

Mind Blown Plant Based Seafood Co. Launches New Crispy Fried Shrimp, Ready to Heat-and-Eat

Mind Blown Plant Based Seafood Co. this week announces the latest addition to its product lineup: Crispy, Crunchy, Fried Shrimp. The plant-based alternative, designed to mimic traditional fried shrimp, debuts as a limited-time offering exclusively available from the company’s website. According to Mind Blown’s Co-founder and CEO Monica Talbert, the new shrimp aims to replicate the experience of traditional fried shrimp while being accessible to individuals with dietary restrictions or allergies. “This shrimp is crispy and crunchy on the outside and tender and sweet on the inside, just like traditional shrimp from the water. It’s also our first par-cooked product that is ready to heat and eat,” states Talbert. Talbert, whose background includes experience in seafood restaurants, added that fried shrimp has long been a …

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© catchfree
Algae, Microalgae & Seaweed

Switzerland’s Catchfree Develops Shrimp Alternative Made From Microalgae and Plant Proteins

Catchfree is a food tech startup that has emerged from the Swiss Technical Institute of Technology (ETH). The company is developing sustainable, nutrient-rich plant-based seafood, starting with a microalgae-based shrimp alternative. Made using a proprietary process, the plant-based shrimp combines microalgae with other plant proteins to replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional value of conventional shrimp. The product has been made possible by the increasing availability of non-pigmented microalgae, which provides a rich source of protein and fatty acids without undesirable colours or flavours. Paprika is used to give the plant-based shrimp an authentic colour without the need for artificial additives. Catchfree was founded by food scientists Eduard Müller and Severin Eder to address overfishing and the environmental issues associated with aquaculture. “We’re focusing on …

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New Wave PopcornShrimp

© New Wave Foods
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

US Plant-Based Shrimp Firm New Wave Foods Shuts Down Amidst Financial Woes

San Francisco-based New Wave Foods, a plant-based seafood company backed by Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of poultry giant Tyson Foods, ceased activities last November and is currently undergoing assignment for the benefit of creditors (a voluntary alternative to formal bankruptcy), as first reported by Alt Meat. According to a general assignment document, New Wave Foods faced financial difficulties and admitted its inability to repay its debts fully. Consequently, the company decided to halt its operations.  Plant-based shrimp for foodservice New Wave Foods manufactured plant-based shrimp for the food service industry. Michelle Wolf and Dominique Barnes established the company in 2015 to disrupt the $9 billion dollar shrimp market with an alternative made with sustainable seaweed and plant proteins. The company planned to develop a range …

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Steakholder Foods announces plant-based shrimps

Steakholder Foods’ plant-based, 3D-printed shrimps.
Printed Technology

Steakholder Foods Unveils the World’s First 3D Printed Plant-Based Shrimp

Israeli biotech Steakholder Foods (Nasdaq: STKH), a cultivated meat and 3D bioprinting technology leader, unveils what it claims to be the world’s first plant-based 3D-printed shrimp. Steakholder Foods’ food team utilized its DropJet printer and shrimp-flavored inks developed in-house to “precision-print” the analogs, layer-by-layer. Combining these technologies allows the company to recreate the texture and flavor of shrimp, offering a realistic alternative. The ingredients for the inks have not been disclosed. Initially, the Israeli company intends to offer 3D-printed plant-based shrimps to potential clients, and eventually, it will launch hybrid shrimps, combining cultivated cells and plant proteins, after its cultivated platform achieves economies of scale to provide a price-competitive product.  The news follows the company’s first incursion into the 3D-printed plant-based category with a realistic eel …

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Vegan Zeastar Coconut Shrimpz

© Vegan Zeastar

Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Vegan Zeastar Adds Crispy Coconut Shrimpz to Plant-Based Shrimp Range

Netherlands-based Vegan Zeastar, which claims to be the world’s largest supplier of plant-based shrimp, introduces the newest member of its family of 100% plant-based shrimp with Crispy Coconut Shrimpz. The NPD joins the lineup of Crispy Chili Shrimpz, Crispy Lemon Shrimpz, and Original Vegan Shrimpz, as introduced in November last year. So far in 2023, Zeastar has also launched the “world’s first” complete range of vegan sushi and poke bowl products and more recently, another “world’s first” in the form of a plant-based king crab product which it claims is cheaper than the conventional equivalent. The company, a brand of Vegan Finest Foods, offers a wide product range ranging from vegan Sashimi Salmon, No Tuna, Tasty Codd, Kalamariz, and Tuna Schnitzel. The market is ready …

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The CellMEAT team

© CellMEAT
Investments & Acquisitions

Korea’s CellMEAT Raises $13M After Developing Cultivated Shrimp & Caviar

South Korea-based cultivated seafood company CellMEAT has raised 17.4 billion KRW ($13 million) in Series A funding. The round was led by previous investors BNK Venture Investment, Ryukyung PSG Asset Management, and Strong Ventures. Three new investors — NH Venture Investment, Genting Ventures, and Daewoodang Healthcare — also participated. It comes as CellMEAT prepares to officially open a mass production center in Seoul later this month, after developing cell culture technology that makes large-scale production economically viable. The company is notable for being one of the first worldwide to develop a serum-free cell culture medium, helping to bring down the cost of production while removing the ethical issues associated with fetal bovine serum. Prioritizing technology development CellMEAT previously raised $8.1 million in a funding round …

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The ISH Company

Christie Fleming ©The ISH Company
Interviews

The ISH Company: “More Than 25 Products in the Works That Have the Same Taste & Texture of Animal Products”

The ISH Company is a US startup taking a unique approach to producing “deliciously disruptive” plant-based seafood. ISH stands for Innovative, Healthy and Sustainable, and the company says it is devoted to creating superior seafood alternatives that don’t compromise on taste or ingredients. Founded by sustainability veteran Bernard David, ISH’s portfolio includes an extensive range of future offerings, from plant-based cod and salmon to lobster and crab. The startup’s flagship product, the ultra realistic Shrimpish, is now available at select US food service locations. We spoke with ISH President and COO Christie Fleming about this impressive startup and its ambitious goals to transform the alt-seafood category. Please tell our readers more about The ISH Company – how did it begin and what kind of products …

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Tuna/ Poke Bowl

©Aqua Cultured Foods
Food & Beverage

Aqua Cultured Foods to Begin First Public Tastings of Alt-Tuna, Shrimp and Scallops

US food tech startup Aqua Cultured Foods announces it will begin consumer tastings of its seafood alternatives in Chicago, ahead of its public launch through chef partners and foodservice distributors.   Beginning April 6, the startup will hold tastings of several alt-seafood products, including Aqua tuna rolls, shrimp dumplings and scallop crudo, at its headquarters in West Loop, Chicago. According to Aqua, it intends to solicit feedback from participants on the products’ quality compared to conventional seafood products, especially texture.  Unique fermentation Founded in 2020, Aqua is developing a range of seafood alternatives, including whitefish, shrimp, scallops and tuna filets, with mycoprotein fermentation technology. Using a unique strain of fungi, the company says it is able to transform plant-based ingredients into realistic seafood alternatives that offer …

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Plant-Based Fried Shrimp

©The ISH Company
Company News

The ISH Company and Dot Foods Enter Agreement to Bring Plant-Based Shrimp to US Food Service

Plant-based seafood company The ISH Company announces it has entered a strategic, non-exclusive distribution agreement with Dot Foods, the largest food industry redistributor in North America. ISH states the agreement will enable it to expand distribution across the continental US and provide food greater service access to its seafood alternatives, such as Shrimpish.  According to ISH, its products are currently available in select restaurants and campus dining halls, including at Harvard and Amherst. Through Dot Foods’ distribution ecosystem, ISH will increase availability of these products, providing food service companies nationwide with more healthy and sustainable seafood options. “Making strides” “At ISH, we’re on a mission to put plant-based seafood on plates worldwide, empowering people to make choices that are healthier for their body, but also …

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Plant-Based Fried Shrimp

©The ISH Company
Investments & Finance

The ISH Company Raises Over $5M in Oversubscribed Round to Accelerate Plant-Based Shrimp and More

Alt-seafood startup The ISH Company announces it has raised more than $5 million in seed funding to accelerate growth and development of its plant-based seafood products. The oversubscribed round was led by ACCELR8, with participation from Stray Dog Capital, and multiple angel investors. The funds will primarily be used to propel the company’s market launch, create more innovative products, and lay the groundwork for future partnerships.  ISH, whose name stands for Innovative, Sustainable, and Healthy, produces a range of plant-based seafood made from natural ingredients such as green coconuts and algae. Its flagship product, Shrimpish®, is a premium, more sustainable alternative to shrimp that launched in select US restaurants, colleges, and universities in early 2022.  “The plant-based market has seen incredible growth over the past …

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Green Go steak

© Green Go

Startups, Accelerators & Incubators

Ukraine: Green Go Creates Realistic Plant-Based Shrimp, Calamari, Ribeye Steak, Filet Minon and More

Ukrainian food startup Green Go is set to host a tasting event and Q&A session with a select group of investors, media, chefs, charities, and other industry partners at the ProVeg HQ in Berlin on Thursday, February 2nd. Green Go will showcase samples of its realistic plant-based shrimp, salmon burgers, calamari, and whole cuts including “ribeye steak” and “filet mignon”, prepared by vegan chef and blogger Alexander Flohr, author of the cookbook Vegan Ocean. Besides tasting the startup’s products — not yet available in restaurants, retail, or food service outside Ukraine — attendees will have the opportunity to talk to Founder Alexandr Panasiuk, CEO and Creative Director  Bogdana Leonova, and Head of Food Technology Maria Manturova. ProVeg Incubator Green Go was founded in 2021 by …

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The Shrimpz Family

© Vegan Zeastar
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Vegan Zeastar Launches “The Shrimpz Family” Range of Plant-Based Shrimp Products

Vegan Finest Foods of the Netherlands today announces a line of 100% plant-based shrimp entailing three new products under the Vegan Zeastar brand. The Shrimpz Family line will debut with Crispy Chili Shrimpz and Crispy Lemon Shrimpz flavours as well as regular Vegan Shrimpz. The products are based on soy and wheat as primary ingredients. Vegan Zeastar has enjoyed great success in its home market in the Netherlands as well as in the UK, where its vegan cod product launched in 2020, and in Spain where its Vegan Sashimi, No Tuna and No Salmon arrived in Madrid last March. The launch of The Shrimpz Family coincides with increasing awareness of the animal suffering that takes place in industrial shrimp farming, following the Dutch TV series …

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Happy Ocean Foods founders

©Happy Ocean Foods

Fundraising

Happy Ocean Foods “Crowdinvesting to Give Private Investors the Chance to Be Part of Our Success Story”

Munich-based Happy Ocean Foods, which specialises in plant-based seafood with a current focus on vegan shrimp, announces a crowdinvesing campaign which goes live today, 15th November. The young startup enjoyed recent success on The Lion’s Den – the German version of the show known as Shark Tank in the US and Dragon’s Den in the UK — receiving investment from two judges including former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg.  The company was also recently named as one of the hottest food startups not to be overlooked in 2022 in the Food & Beverage Innovators Rising Stars 2022 report.  Without further ado, Co-founder Robin Drummond is here to tell all about the new campaign and plans for the future. Please introduce your brand Happy Ocean …

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ISH Plant-Based Shrimp

© ISH Foods
Food & Beverage

Meet ISH Foods: A ‘Deliciously Disruptive’ Startup Launching Plant-Based Shrimp, Lobster and More

In light of hard-hitting documentaries like A Plastic Ocean and Seaspiracy, more consumers than ever are seeking environmentally conscious alternatives to conventional fish and seafood. While the plant-based seafood market continues to grow, ISH Foods promises to boldly disrupt the category with an innovative line of realistic shrimp, salmon, cod, lobster and more.  Inspired by the ocean Founded by Bernard David, ISH Foods carries impressive credentials – David is a former advisor to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who now serves as Chair of the Global CO2 Initiative, and is a member of the Director’s Council of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. David converted to a healthier lifestyle following a life-changing heart attack, and created ISH (which stands for Innovative, Sustainable and Healthy) to provide …

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Mind Blown New Crab Cakes

©Mind Blown

Company News

Mind Blown Seafood Expands Plant-Based Crab Cakes and More into US Food Service

Mind Blown by the Plant-Based Seafood Co. announces the expansion of its products into US food service through several major distributors, including Sysco, US Foods, Fancy Foods Inc., and Webstaurant. The brand’s new crab cakes will now be available in new markets across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as well as to operators nationwide via Webstaurant.  According to Mind Blown, the expansion means the crab cakes will also be featured on more restaurant menus, such as All Surf No Turf in Clifton, NJ.  Strong growth Mind Blown debuted its plant-based Crab Cakes, Dusted Shrimp and Scallops at all Sprouts Farmers Markets locations in July. The rollout followed two years of strong growth for the brand, which has gained the backing of celebrity chefs like Spike …

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Mind Blown w/ Kelp Seaweed

©The Plant Based Seafood Co.

Food & Beverage

Mind Blown Seafood to Debut New Shrimp, Scallops and Crab Cakes Made with Atlantic Sea Farms Kelp

Alt seafood brand Mind Blown Plant-Based Seafood and kelp producer Atlantic Sea Farms announce they are partnering to incorporate new kelp ingredients in Mind Blown’s award-winning product line.  Beginning in mid-October, Atlantic’s umami-rich kelp will be added to Mind Blown Dusted Shrimp and Dusted Scallops, followed by Mind Blown Crab Cakes in 2023. The new products will launch at all 300+ Sprouts Farmers Markets across the US.  Grown via Atlantic’s regenerative aquaculture, kelp is a carbon-negative and hyper-efficient crop that requires zero inputs from fertilizer, pesticides, feeds or fresh water. Kelp seaweed is also one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, with high levels of iodine, antioxidants, potassium, iron, and the highest natural concentration of calcium found in any food.  Both Mind Blown …

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Fermented shrimp dumpling

©Aqua Cultured Foods
Fermentation

Aqua Cultured Develops Minced Seafood Dumplings for Asian Go-To Market Partners

Alt seafood startup Aqua Cultured Foods announces it has created a minced dumpling filling for its future go-to-market Asian food partners. One of the company’s new options is a bulk shrimp alternative that can be seasoned, packaged and co-branded by retailers or distributors. Aqua, which produces mycoprotein-based seafood using fermentation, is primarily known for developing whole-muscle cut, sushi-quality filets. However, minced seafood dumplings present another lucrative and highly accessible market opportunity. As dietary staples in countries like China, South Korea, and Japan, frozen dumplings – known variously as mandu, gyoza or jiaozi – make up a $5.8Bn global market, and its value is expected to grow to $10Bn by the end of 2027.  Unlike whole cuts of high-grade fish, dumplings can utilize off-cuts, trim and …

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ISH Food Plant-Based Shrimp

©Shrimpish
Company News

Thai Union and Chicken of the Sea Form Alliance with Alt-Seafood Brand The ISH Food Company

Global tuna giant Thai Union and Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods announce an alliance with US alt-seafood brand The ISH Food Company. The alliance will leverage Thai Union and Chicken of the Sea’s marketing and distribution channels to invest in sustainable seafood, making such options available to more consumers at affordable prices. Since 2016, Thai Union has actively developed its SeaChange sustainability strategy, as environmental stewardship is increasingly a primary concern for seafood consumers. In a survey conducted with Wakefield Research, Chicken of the Sea reveals grocery and foodservice executives and buyers were surprised to receive requests for plant-based (35%) and lab-grown (31%) seafood products this year. “We are excited to expand our reach within the alternative protein space through this alliance with The …

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Mind Blown New Crab Cakes

©Mind Blown

Products & Launches

Mind Blown Seafood Debuts New Crab Cakes and Launches National Distribution at Sprouts Farmers Market

Mind Blown by The Plant-Based Seafood Co. announces the launch of its fourth alt-seafood product, Mind Blown Crab Cakes, and its first national distribution at Sprouts Farmers Markets. Starting today, the brand’s new Crab Cakes, Dusted Shrimp, and Dusted Scallops will be available at Sprouts locations across the US.  The Mind Blown Crab Cakes feature plant protein and are seasoned with celery and onion to recreate the classic flavors of crab cake, as well as panko bread crumbs for a flaky texture. In addition to Sprouts, the crab cakes, scallops and shrimp are also available for wholesale buyers through VedgeCo. Celebrity supporters In recent months, the female-founded vegan seafood brand has gained high-profile support from top influencers in the food industry, including celebrity chef Spike …

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