Latest: Catch of the Day 🐟

Alternative protein has gone mainstream, pushed on simultaneously by the pandemic and the steady rise of plant-based diets. And it’s growing, with the global plant-based industry expected to be worth $23.2 billion in a few years.

But now the focus is shifting from alt-beef brands (Impossible Burger; Beyond Meat) and alt-chicken (NUGGS and No Evil Foods) to alt-seafood.

Yup, the catch of the day was not actually caught.

MAKING WAVES
In our 2020 Plant-Based USA list, we spotlighted a few brands that “mimic” the taste of seafood dishes such as shrimp and tunafish from brands like Good Catch and New Wave Foods. Since then, sizable investments for alt-seafood have been made, largely in Europe and in Asia.

But with Trader Joe’s eyeing their own plant-based seafood line, Big Food in America is certainly anticipating casting their lines into these waters.

THE ‘SEASPIRACY’ EFFECT
If you haven’t watched Seaspiracy on Netflix, do it now to truly understand why alternative seafood is crucial for the planet. The controversial documentary explores the dark side of the global fishing industry and how the current overfishing of our oceans is just as bad for climate change as plastics in the water.

One of the solutions it recommended was obvious—stop eating seafood. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the nutrients that fish provide. As New Wave Foods co-founder explained in the documentary, the algae consumed by fish has all the nutrients so “why not go direct to the source?” (As Akua Kelp Jerky has done.)

And judging from the spike in Google searches for “vegan seafood” after the documentary hit #1 on Netflix, it’s clear there’s a real market for alt-fish. Beyond that, more and more consumers will demand change in how fish is caught and delivered and that means we will need more supply.

WHO’S IN THE WATER
Many alt-seafood brands have been in the works for a few years, such as Finless Foods which actually creates fish products from fish cells. Technically, this is composed of fish so it doesn’t qualify as plant-based but the aim is the same—offer fish without killing fish.

Aside from Good Catch, New Wave, Finless Foods and Akua, here are other brands pioneering alternative seafood:

Kuleana: Plant-based tuna
Ocean Hugger Foods: Plant-based salmon and tuna sushi now linked up with Hong Kong’s Nove Foods
Save Da Sea: Plant-based smoked salmon
Sophie’s Kitchen: Plant-based fish fillets, crabcakes, shrimp, smoked salmon and tuna
The Plant-Based Seafood Co: Shrimp, scallops and crab cakes
Wild Type: Lab-grown salmon

ON THE HORIZON
With no slowdown anticipated for plant-based foods, alternative seafood is expected to reap the benefits of health and earth-conscious consumers—not just those visiting the grocery store but in food service and restaurants as well.

However you feel about eating seafood, alt-fish will be, as Ariel once sang, a “part of your world” soon. 🧜‍♀️

🛒 Shopify Success