Hailia co-founders, CEO Michaela Lindström and CTO Otto Kaukonen.
Photo: Laura Riihela / Hailia.
Finnish food technology company Hailia has announced a €1.75 million investment round and a new strategic partnership to support its international expansion. The company specializes in converting fish processing by-products into ready-to-eat food for human consumption, and now aims to scale its licensing model globally.
The investment brings together key players from Hailia’s existing supply chain. Finnish rainbow trout producer Kalavapriikki, a long-time collaborator and licensee of Hailia’s technology, is one of the lead investors. Danish engineering firm Dana Technology, which developed the specialized machinery used in the process, has also joined as a strategic technology partner. Hailia holds exclusive rights to use Dana’s equipment in seafood applications. Additional funding came from new investors Holdix and Ikorni Invest, as well as a mix of returning and first-time backers, the company announced.
Hailia’s technology transforms sidestreams from fish processing traditionally used for animal feed or industrial applications, such as heads, fins, and frames, into food products with a texture and mouthfeel similar to cooked fish fillets. The company claims its process offers a more sustainable and valuable alternative by turning them into appealing consumer products.
In 2024, Hailia launched its first commercial product, “pulled rainbow trout,” in collaboration with Kalavapriikki and Finnish grocery chain S-Group. The same year, it also introduced products for food service and industrial kitchens with fish processor Hätälä, and announced that it had signed its first licensing agreement to integrate its technology into Kalavapriikki's production facility in Kuopio, Finland.
“Using sidestreams for human food used to be a nice-to-have, but now it’s an industry must-have. Comparing conversations with processors at trade shows last year to this year, we see a huge uptick in interest, not for the future but for right now,” said Michaela Lindström, CEO of Hailia, in a press release. “Having Kalavapriikki and Dana Technology invested in our future gives us the confidence and means to seize these opportunities.”
“We have seen the impact of Hailia’s technology in our own production. Not only are we using more of the fish and reducing our carbon footprint, but we are also able to create completely new products for our customers," added Kalavapriikki CEO Jari Korhonen. "We believe this technology is the future of fish processing, and we were never in doubt about wanting to be an active part of that journey."
Hailia plans to expand its licensing model by enabling processors to adopt the technology and equipment at their own facilities. The company says it is already in talks with global producers of salmonoids, pelagics, and whitefish.
The food technology firm said it will be presenting its solution at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, having previously received the World Food Innovation Award and recognition from UNIDO and the World Circular Economy Forum for its contribution to sustainable food systems.
