BlueNalu expands its European cultivated seafood rollout through Nomad Foods deal
The American company is strengthening its push to bring cultivated seafood to UK and EU markets.
UK – US-based cultivated seafood firm BlueNalu is extending its partnership with frozen food company Nomad Foods to support the launch of its products in the UK and across Europe.
The two companies first teamed up in 2021 to evaluate how cell-based seafood could be introduced to select markets in the region.
Their collaboration, which initially focused on research and regulatory groundwork, is now progressing into product commercialization.
BlueNalu CEO Lou Cooperhouse confirmed the shift in focus, stating that the alliance now aims to move from exploratory work to launching products.
The renewed agreement follows earlier joint efforts in consumer research, market analysis, and regulatory planning.
According to both firms, the near-term focus will be on market entry in the UK, beginning with premium foodservice channels and limited-time offerings.
These initial steps are intended to target consumer preferences for high-quality, sustainable seafood alternatives.
In a related development, BlueNalu is among the eight companies participating in the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) regulatory ‘sandbox’ for cultivated proteins.
This pilot initiative allows selected firms to collaborate with the FSA on navigating the regulatory pathway for novel food products.
BlueNalu is currently the only US company in the program and the only one concentrating specifically on cultivated seafood.
Cooperhouse said the next phase of the partnership will involve creating a detailed strategy for entering the UK and wider European markets.
This includes further product development, regulatory work, and identifying the right commercial channels.
Nomad Foods, known for brands like Birds Eye and Findus, is expected to provide market access and local expertise.
The expansion comes amid findings from a consumer survey sponsored by BlueNalu, which point to rising health-driven interest in cell-based seafood.
The 2024 survey polled 2,000 sushi consumers in the UK, with 92% expressing willingness to try cell-cultivated bluefin tuna toro.
Key reasons cited by respondents included the absence of contaminants like mercury, microplastics, and antibiotics, along with high omega-3 content.
BlueNalu also funded an independent academic study that found “cell-cultivated” and “cell-cultured” to be acceptable labels for such products.
The company, founded in San Diego in 2018, creates seafood products directly from fish cells without the need to harvest marine animals.
Through its work with Nomad Foods and the UK regulatory sandbox, BlueNalu aims to bring its cultivated seafood closer to European consumers.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
