Bayou Best Foods CEO Kelli Wilson (left) and BettaF!sh founder and CEO Deniz Ficicioglu (right).
Photo: Bayou Best Foods.
US plant-based shrimp producer Bayou Best Foods announced the acquisition of German seaweed company Wunderfish GmbH, better known by the brand name under which it sells its plant-based seafood products, BettaF!sh.
The announcement highlighted that this acquisition not only brings together two women-led companies with complementary strengths but also unites two of the most recognized brands in this category of plant-based products, in a context where the demand continues to grow on both sides of the Atlantic.
With Kelli Wilson at the helm, Bayou Best Foods makes plant-based seafood, with an offering that is currently centred on plant-based shrimp. Focused on foodservice and B2B distribution rather than direct consumer sales, its shrimp analogue made with plant-based ingredients—including pea protein, sunflower oil, potato starch and alginate—is available across the U.S. through leading foodservice distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, PFG, Ace Natural, and What Chefs Want.
On the other side of the Atlantic, based in Berlin and led by Deniz Ficicioglu, BettaF!sh makes plant-based seafood from European seaweed—one of its suppliers is Seaweed Solutions, now SeaForester Group after the merger with SeaForester—as its parent company, Wunderfish GmbH, is one of the key partners in the EU-funded MARMADE project, which aims to develop innovative and sustainable ingredients for human food and animal feed from the transformation of marine biomass, specifically algae and crustacean waste.
The release highlighted that Wunderfish GmbH's brand has earned the loyalty of European retailers, foodservice operators, and consumers thanks to its award-winning fish alternatives. Its flagship products are TU-NAH—an alternative to canned tuna—and SAL-NOM—an alternative to smoked salmon—both made with seaweed and plant proteins.
Thus, as the acquisition announcement also highlighted, BettaF!sh's seaweed-based product line complements Bayou Best Foods' plant-based shrimp offering. However, the complementarity between the two companies goes even further.
The German company brings extensive experience in innovating seafood products made from seaweed, as well as a strong presence in the retail and foodservice channels in Europe.
Meanwhile, the US company contributes an extensive distribution network for the foodservice sector, deep operational expertise, and a proven track record in marketing plant-based seafood products in the United States.
"Our goal has always been to bring great-tasting, ocean-friendly seafood to more people, and BettaFish is exactly the kind of partner that makes that possible," said Kelli Wilson, CEO of Bayou Best Foods, commenting on the acquisition.
"We share the same belief that seafood should be delicious, accessible, and sustainable, and we see enormous potential in what we can build together," she added.
"This is a natural next chapter for BettaF!sh," stated, for her part, Deniz Ficicioglu, founder and CEO of BettaF!sh. "Both of our companies were built on the belief that protecting the ocean and creating exceptional food should go hand in hand. By joining forces, we can move faster, reach more customers, and help shape the future of seafood together."
As mentioned above, the statement highlighted that, by combining complementary expertise in ingredient innovation, product development and marketing, the acquisition creates new opportunities, positioning the resulting company to become a global leader in plant-based seafood products.
In the short term, these opportunities will materialize in distribution. Bayou Best Foods' plant-based shrimp will be available to BettaF!sh's restaurant partners across Europe, while BettaF!sh's plant-based tuna and salmon will be gradually introduced to Bayou Best Foods' network in the United States.