Tuna

AQUA Cultured Foods' tuna

© AQUA Cultured Foods
Fermentation

​​AQUA Cultured Foods Debuts its Unique, Raw ‘Tuna’ at Chicago Michelin Restaurant

After achieving GRAS status earlier this year, AQUA Cultured Foods‘ long-awaited, fermentation-derived alternatives to raw seafood have finally launched into foodservice. Mama Delia, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in Chicago owned by Chef Marcos Campos Sanchez, has introduced AQUA Tuna as part of the restaurant’s ‘Atún Crudo’ (raw tuna) dish. The dish comes with potato strings and fried eggs, but it can be vegan upon request. Atún Crudo is just the beginning for AQUA’s Tuna in Chef Campos’s kitchen, as he plans to explore additional uses to highlight the product’s versatility. “The taste is just… really like tuna. Even better than the frozen tuna you find in the market,” said Chef Campos. “I think they did an amazing job creating something that looks exactly like …

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Plant-based fish company Hooked Foods announces it has expanded its product portfolio with new options, including plant-based chicken.

© Hooked Foods
Products & Launches

Hooked Foods Launches New Vegan Seafood, Enters Chicken Category, Gains Listings at Sweden’s Biggest Retailers

Swedish startup Hooked Foods announces it has expanded its product portfolio with further vegan seafood options as well as new plant-based chicken products, marking its entrance into a new category. The products will be available in Sweden’s two largest major retail chains — ICA Gruppen and Coop Sverige — starting October 2024. The new products were created to meet the demand for specific plant-based products, following input from partner retailers and consumers, say the founders. In addition to the NPDs, Hooked Foods has revamped its packaging design in response to consumer demand for transparency. The new packaging is said to include easy-to-understand product images, clear labeling, and a focus on honesty and safety, emphasizing honesty and safety. It has been designed to reflect the company’s …

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Wanda Fish tuna sashimi

Image credit Noam Preisman
Cultivated Seafood

Wanda Fish Unveils its First Cultivated Bluefin Tuna Product: Toro Sashimi

Israeli cultivated seafood startup Wanda Fish announces that it has successfully developed its first cultivated bluefin tuna prototype: toro sashimi. Wanda Fish claims that its whole cut, crafted from the muscle and fat cells of bluefin tuna, offers the same sensory features and a comparable protein and omega-3 fatty acids ratio to the wild fish’s fatty underbelly (called toro in Japanese gastronomy). The company says it enlisted skilled chefs to demonstrate the culinary possibilities of its cultivated bluefin tuna as an alternative to raw toro in sashimi. Daphna Heffetz, co-founder and CEO of Wanda Fish, shares, “A key focus in the creation of our product was achieving the same level of fat marbling as real Bluefin toro sashimi to create the same look and mouthfeel.” Malkiel Cohen, VP of …

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Canadian plant-based seafood startup Save Da Sea has secured CAD 650,000 in a seed II financing round to accelerate its US expansion and hire additional team members in Victoria.

© Save da Sea
Investments & Finance

Save Da Sea Secures Funds for Expansion, Proving that “Profit with Purpose” is Possible

Canadian plant-based seafood startup Save Da Sea recently secured CAD 650,000 in a seed II financing round to accelerate the US expansion of its salmon and tuna alternatives and hire additional team members at its headquarters in Victoria. The startup made its US debut at Market of Choice, a retail chain with 11 locations throughout Oregon, last week, as reported by Betakit. Meanwhile, its US expansion plans include other listings following a strategy to concentrate on natural foods retailers in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, CEO and founder Aki Kaltenbach reported that the company’s revenue in the Canadian market had tripled year over year, encouraging a US launch of its fresh refrigerated smoked salmon and tuna products. The round was led by the Business Development Bank …

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Aqua Cultured scallop

Image courtesy of Aqua Cultured
Fermentation

Aqua Cultured Foods Partners with Ginkgo Bioworks To Elevate Scallop and Tuna Alternatives

Today, Aqua Cultured Foods, specializing in alternative seafood production through microbial fermentation, has announced a partnership with Ginkgo Bioworks, a cell programming and biosecurity company. This collaboration seeks to refine and enhance the production process of Aqua’s fish-free seafood products, which have been developed to mimic the texture, taste, and appearance of fresh-caught seafood. Based in Chicago, Aqua Cultured Foods has been developing seafood alternatives using a patent-pending fermentation technique and a blend of microbes, fibers, and plant-derived flavors to replicate the umami profile and buttery texture characteristic of oceanic seafood. Its inaugural products, tuna, and scallop alternatives, are said to retain their quality for up to six weeks. The company first began public tastings of its beta alternative tuna, shrimp, and scallops this time …

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Impact Food x Pokeworks

© Impact Food
Food Service

Pokeworks Expands Partnership with Impact Food, Bringing Plant-Based Tuna to San Francisco and New York

Plant-based seafood producer Impact Food, and Pokeworks, an American fast-casual poke chain, have announced an expansion of their partnership in the US. The collaboration, which initially began with a limited partnership at the Pokeworks location in Irvine, California last June, has now expanded to include all Pokeworks locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, followed by a launch in New York City locations in March. Kelly Pan, CEO of Impact Food, enthused, “Our mission at Impact Food is to revolutionize the food industry by providing delicious, nutritious, and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional seafood. Our partnership with Pokeworks underscores our mutual commitment to a sustainable future where plant-based options are preferred. The launch in New York City and San Francisco is just the beginning.” Impact …

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NH Foods from Japan will introduce a plant-based tuna sashimi.

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Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Nippon Ham to Introduce Plant-Based Tuna Sashimi for Food Service in Japan

NH Foods, a Japanese ham manufacturer known in the country as Nippon Ham, is developing a plant-based tuna sashimi for food service. The Japanese firm is marketing and promoting its plant-based tuna sashimi as a reliable and environmentally friendly protein source in the face of potential strain on fishery resources. Last spring, the company expanded into the alt seafood category with two plant-based seafood products — fish fries and popcorn shrimp — also highlighting the sustainability of the new alternatives. However, instead of focusing on retail, the company will launch the new plant-based tuna sashimi exclusively for restaurants this April to learn about consumer preferences and the market. Nippon Ham’s new plant-based tuna sashimi is made from plant-derived ingredients, including konjac flour, dietary fiber, and …

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US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has raised $33.5 million to scale its cultivated toro platform.

© BlueNalu
Investments & Finance

BlueNalu Secures $33.5M to Expand Cultivated Toro Platform Ahead of Launch

US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has raised $33.5 million from new and existing investors in a Series B round, announces Agronomics, the UK’s leading biotech VC with a strong portfolio of cell ag companies, including BlueNalu. The new funds will allow BlueNalu to scale the production of cultivated toro (the high-value portion of bluefin tuna) and demonstrate the technological capabilities of its platform to create whole-muscle products. BlueNalu is based in San Diego, California, where it operates a 40,000-square-foot pilot facility producing small batches and carrying out market testing and research insights in food service settings across the USA. The announced plan is to scale the current production further and prepare to launch, following regulatory approval, its first commercial product (toro). BlueNalu raised $60 million in debt financing …

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Israeli food tech Wanda Fish Technologies has secured $7 million in seed funding to scale the production cultivated bluefin tuna.

© Wanda Fish Technologies

Investments & Finance

Wanda Fish Technologies Raises $7M for Pilot Production of Cultivated Bluefin Tuna

Israeli food tech Wanda Fish Technologies announces it has secured $7 million in seed funding to scale the production of its first product — cultivated bluefin tuna whole-cut filet. The company claims that its cultivated bluefin tuna, produced according to non-GMO standards, replicates the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of wild-caught fish without ocean pollutants like mercury. The round was led by Netherlands-based global aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark, with additional funding from previous pre-seed investors The Kitchen Hub by the Strauss Group, Peregrine Ventures, LLC, PICO Venture Partners, MOREVC, and CPT Capital, LLP. To date, the company has raised $10 million in capital. “We are on a shared mission to improve the global food value chain, creating a tasty, more sustainable future for all. This financial backing …

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a piece of cultivated tuna

© BlueNalu
Company News

BlueNalu Strengthens Deals with APAC Seafood Leaders to Introduce Cultivated Bluefin Tuna in Asian Markets

US-based cultivated seafood company BlueNalu has announced extended and improved partnerships with three prominent seafood APAC industry leaders: Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, South Korea’s Pulmuone Co. Ltd., and Thai Union. The expanded collaborations include independent Memorandums of Understanding with each company to support BlueNalu in developing market strategies to launch its sustainable cultivated bluefin tuna in the region over the coming years.  The strategic partners will support the biotech in three areas including market research on consumer preferences, emerging trends, and evolving market dynamics. It will also help expedite the approval process of regulatory requirements and support market entry, distribution, and supply chain management strategies to introduce BlueNalu’s products to consumers, food service, and retailers across the APAC region. Lou Cooperhouse, president and CEO of BlueNalu, shared: “We are …

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endori Thuna hero shot

© endori food GmbH
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

German Pea Protein Leader endori Adds Vegan Tuna to its Growing Portfolio of Pea Products

Germany’s endori, previously known as Amidori, is the newest addition to a list of at least ten global vegan tuna launches so far this year. While many of the plant-based tuna products are produced with soy, wheat, legumes, seaweed and algae, or a mix of plant proteins, this stands out as one of the few created with a pea protein base, making it suitable for those with dietary requirements and allergies. It is worth noting that Nestlé’s Vuna has been priced at around €6.50 euros for a small jar, creating an opportunity for more affordable products on the European market. Authentic flavour with tuna-like structure The NPD joins the brand’s two existing alternative seafood products — fishcakes and fingers — in its portfolio which entails …

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British plant-based meat brand Squeaky Bean launches its first-ever fish alternatives

Image courtesy of Squeaky Bean

Products & Launches

Squeaky Bean Enters Plant-Based Seafood Category with Tuna Flakes and Smoked Salmon Slices

British plant-based meat brand Squeaky Bean announces the launch of its first-ever fish alternatives: Squeaky Bean Tuna Style Flakes and Squeaky Bean Beechwood Smoked Salmon Style Slices; marking what the brand claims to be the first vegan smoked salmon-style slices to be available in major retailers. The new smoked salmon slices will launch first at Waitrose on the 20th of September. And from the 27th of September, both products will be available at Sainsbury’s stores across the UK. Squeaky Bean, which keeps expanding its portfolio with vegan versions of the traditional snack sausage rolls or crumbed ham slices, says that its NPDs respond to the growing demand for plant-based fish.   Becky Youseman, marketing controller at The Compleat Food Group, said: “Eating fish is a popular diet …

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loryma tuna

©Crespel Deiters Group
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Loryma Develops Plant-Based Tuna from Wheat as Alt Tuna Continues to Soar

German wheat specialist Loryma, a brand of the Crespel & Deiters Group, has developed vegan concepts for wheat-based fish substitutes, as demand and interest for fish-free fish continues on a global level. For context, and as we previously noted, a recent report by Data Bridge Market Research predicts that the plant-based seafood market will grow with a considerable CAGR of 28.5% through 2029; a previous report highlights alt seafood as a significant driver of the plant-based food market as a whole; and another from this June cites vegan seafood as an area of increased relevance to the industry as a whole. Additionally, this week ProVeg stated that although the alt seafood sector is still smaller than plant-based meat and dairy, it has experienced exponential growth and …

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Unlimeat

© UNLIMEAT
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

UNLIMEAT to Further Expand its Portfolio With Plant-Based Tuna

UNLIMEAT’s CEO and founder, Keum Chae Min, confirms that the company is preparing for the launch of its new plant-based tuna products, which will be available in three different flavors. The South Korea-based company is most known for its plant-based Pulled Pork and Korean BBQ lines, which are sold in 1,500 Albertsons stores across the US and were recently promoted through an LA Food Truck Tour. In May, the company further announced a partnership with the Korean-Style corn dog shop Two Hands to launch a vegan option containing UNLIMEAT’s vegan sausage. The plant-based meat company has now announced its first step into fish alternatives with a line of plant-based tuna products, as interest in alt seafood continues to rise globally. The new range, said to …

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poke bowl - Impact Food

© Impact Food

Company News

Impact Food and Pokeworks Enter Distribution Deal to Bring Plant-Based Tuna to the Masses

Californian alt seafood startup Impact Food announces the launch of its flagship plant-based tuna at Pokeworks’ most popular location in Irvine, California, from the 28th for a limited time.  Impact Food, which debuted in February its Impact Tuna at Onigilly, a Japanese eatery with three locations in San Francisco Bay Area, now announces a strategic distribution agreement with the fast-casual poke brand to expand and provide a broader audience with “uncompromising” sustainable alternatives. Pokeworks, the world’s leading fast-casual poke brand, has more than 60 locations nationwide and restaurants in Taiwan, Mexico, and Canada, and it plans to expand to over 100 stores in 2023.  The chain has launched vegan offerings such as crab legs made by Aquamar and Omni’s vegan pork musubi. Impact Tuna Stephanie Claudino Daffara, co-founder & …

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John West plant-based tuna salads

© John West
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Seafood Giant John West Launches Plant-Based Tuna Salads in the UK

166-year-old seafood company John West has launched plant-based tuna salads in the UK, marking the first time it has offered an alt protein option in its home country. The salads are available in two varieties — Harissa and Indian — both containing couscous, lentils, and a tuna alternative made from soy and wheat protein. Other ingredients include vegetables, chickpeas, split peas, wild rice, and quinoa. “Enjoy a protein-packed Plant Power vegan salad to keep you fuelled throughout the day,” says John West on its website. “Powered by plants, just peel, stir, and eat for a deliciously convenient meal that’s bursting with flavour. 1 of your 5 a day, 100% recyclable packing, and no artificial ingredients.” The launches come after John West introduced its first ever …

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Umani to launch new seafood made with microalgae

© WTH Foods
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Philippines’ WTH Foods to Launch New Microalgae-Based Seafood Overseas

WTH Foods, a food tech startup based in the Philippines, has expanded into the plant-based seafood category with new frozen microalgae-based products enriched with Omega-3. The company, which already introduced its NPDs in the country, has plans to launch its vegan seafood products — crab cakes and plant-based tuna —  in Europe and South East Asia, reported Food Navigator ASIA. WTH Foods claims its new products use microalgae biomass to deliver seafood flavor and provide DHA and Omega-3. They are said to be clean-label, with microalgae and oil as the main ingredients, 100% fishless, without heavy metals or microplastic. In January, the company launched Umani, a frozen plant-based meat brand made with microalgae, soy, and wheat proteins. The new seafood products join the Umami range, which includes sausages, meatballs, mince, …

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World Ocean Day

© BettaF!sh
Sustainability / Environment

BettaF!sh Celebrates World Ocean Day as It Saves 122 Tons of Tuna

German alt seafood startup BettaF!sh is celebrating World Ocean Day by publishing official data on the company’s impact for the first time. BettaF!sh reports that it has saved 122 tons of real tuna to date — an estimated 29,775 skipjack tuna fish. This has prevented around 124 tons of bycatch. Figures suggest that 43% of worldwide tuna stocks are currently fished at unsustainable levels, with many fish caught before they can reproduce. Additionally, BettaF!sh has cultivated and harvested 11 tons of seaweed, which is estimated to have absorbed 1.32 tons of CO2 and conserved 1.25 million liters of freshwater. Seaweed does not require any soil, fertilizers, or pesticides to grow, and according to BettaF!sh, there is potential for many coastal communities to cultivate it as …

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EAT HAPPY instore sushi concept

© EAT HAPPY

Food Service

EAT HAPPY Trials Vegan Fish Sushi in Austria Where Vegan Diet is “Rising Steadily”

EAT HAPPY, an in-store sushi concept and leading supplier of Asian convenience products in mainland Europe, launches three plant-based fish sushi products, stating that the company sees the “proportion of those people who eat a purely vegan diet rising steadily in Austria”. The products being trialed at four initial test markets in Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are Vegan Salmon Nigiri, Vegan Salmon Maki, and Vegan Tuna California. The vegan sushi products are set to expand nationally throughout Austria after the test phase. EAT HAPPY’s plant-based offerings EAT HAPPY is represented in more than 3,000 locations in stationary food retailers throughout Europe and operates 50 EAT HAPPY Shops as well as in more than 1,000 chests at stores such as Billa and Spar. Last May, the …

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Yumeat's plant-based range

© Yumeat
Meat- and Fish Alternatives

Singapore’s Yumeat Expands Shelf-Stable Vegan Meat Range Throughout Asia

In 2021, Ayam Brand — a Singaporean prepared and canned foods company established over 120 years ago — introduced a new plant-based meat brand called Yumeat.  Using the tagline “Get your proteins from plants,” Yumeat debuted in Singapore with plant-based luncheon meat and minced meat — two shelf-stable, ready-to-eat plant-based products that were unique in the market at the time. “Good for you, good for the planet,” says Yumeat, adding, “Whether you are vegan or an aspiring flexitarian, we are here to help you achieve a sustainable lifestyle.”  Expanding through Asia Over the past year, Yumeat has expanded into Malaysia, Australia, and Hong Kong, and it recently debuted in Thailand. Since its launch, the brand has been introducing new products, including Mapu Tofu and new …

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