BlueNalu expands partnership with Birds Eye owners for UK cultivated seafood launch

Trio of BlueNalu's bluefin tuna toro nigiri. Credit: BlueNalu

BlueNalu is expanding its partnership with Nomad Foods, the European frozen food giant behind Birds Eye, to commercialise its cell-cultivated seafood products in the UK and across Europe. The collaboration, which began in 2021, is set to bring BlueNalu’s sustainable, high-quality seafood offerings to a wider consumer base.

The expanded agreement will focus on developing a market-entry strategy for BlueNalu’s cell-cultured products, starting with premium food service offerings, in line with rising consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable seafood alternatives.

The partnership marks a major step for both companies as they work together to bring BlueNalu’s innovative bluefin tuna toro to the UK market.

Carly Arnold, Chief RDQ Officer at Nomad Foods said:

As a company that has a long history of successfully introducing innovative and great tasting fish and seafood products, we are excited to continue working alongside BlueNalu to bring this transformative technology to market.

The goals of cell-cultivated seafood to offer alternative yet nutritious, safe and sustainable products aligns with our commitment to providing consumers with access to great tasting seafood that is both good for them and good for the planet.”

Overwhelming interest

A recent survey of 2,000 UK sushi enthusiasts, commissioned by BlueNalu and conducted by Dr. William K. Hallman, Professor at Rutgers University, found overwhelming interest in cultivated seafood.

The survey revealed that 92 percent of respondents would be eager to try BlueNalu’s bluefin tuna toro. Additionally, 74 percent of participants were open to paying the same or more for cultivated seafood compared to traditional bluefin tuna.

The market research highlights the growing appeal of cultivated seafood, with consumers citing the absence of harmful elements like parasites, pesticides, microplastics, mercury and antibiotics, as key benefits. 

Lou Cooperhouse, Founder, President, and CEO of BlueNalu said:

Our cell-cultivated bluefin toro offers a new, high-quality seafood experience — nutrient-rich, free from environmental contaminants, and designed to complement a global supply chain that is increasingly fragile and unpredictable.

We’re proud to work with trusted partners and forward-thinking regulatory agencies to deliver safe, consistent, and desirable seafood to consumers in the coming years. Our acceptance into the UK regulatory sandbox reinforces BlueNalu’s position as a global company at the forefront of food system innovation.”

As part of BlueNalu’s ongoing efforts to secure regulatory approval in the UK, the company is working closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) under its regulatory sandbox programme. This collaboration aims to establish the scientific evidence required to support the safe entry of cell-cultivated products into the market.