Ocean Collective co-founders Jörgen Bergqvist, Anders Jacobson and Vilhelm Sundström.
Photo: Ocean Collective
Stockholm-based Ocean Collective has announced plans to introduce a range of sustainable seafood products across the Nordic countries. The initiative will be led by its newly formed subsidiary, Ocean Next, which will work alongside retailers, food manufacturers and other companies in the Ocean Collective group.
According to the company, production will take place in Falkenberg, Sweden, and will draw on the experience of smoked fish processor Korshags Food, another Ocean Collective subsidiary, which aims to make its operations fully regenerative within the next few years.
“The vision of Ocean Collective and our group of companies is to change the perception of blue food amongst consumers, whilst never compromising on our core beliefs of healthy oceans, and consumer taste and appeal," said Jorgen Bergqvist, Group CEO of Ocean Collective and Executive Chairman of both Korshags Food AB and Ocean Next AB, via a press release.
The company's strategy builds on a collaboration with Finnish food technology firm SuperGround. Over the past year, the two companies have been exploring how Superground’s processing technology can be used to reduce waste by repurposing fish bones and other underused parts of fish.
Bergqvist explained: “During the past year since we first entered into a partnership with Superground, we have explored the market and learned where the most promising opportunities are for using this pioneering novel method in food processing technology that refines undervalued bones and hard tissues from fish, turning it into sustainable, tasty and profitable products."
"We are confident that there are several attractive opportunities, especially in composed products like fish nuggets, fish burgers, and fish balls that either significantly reduce the costs of the products or increase the share of seafood," he added.
If successful, the company believes this approach could lead to a more efficient and environmentally friendly way of producing seafood for Nordic consumers.
"We are very excited to see the positive development of our partnership between Superground and Ocean Collective and this next step will enable us to scale our business model and begin to explore new regions also outside the Nordics. In Ocean Collective we have found a like-minded mission driven, ambitious, yet entrepreneurial partner and we look forward to making impact together," said Jaakko Kaminen, CEO of Superground.