BlueNalu lays groundwork for UK expansion with Nomad Foods partnership
BlueNalu has expanded a strategic partnership with Nomad Foods to support the commercialisation of its cell-cultivated seafood products in the UK and across Europe.
Nomad Foods and BlueNalu, global leader in cell-cultivated seafood and part of the Agronomics portfolio, first announced a partnership in 2021. To date, the partnership has explored opportunities to bring cell-cultivated seafood to select markets in the UK and Europe.
The new partnership will now see the two companies work together on delivering a market-entry strategy for the sale of BlueNalu’s cell-cultivated seafood in the UK, beginning with premium foodservice and limited-time offerings.
The partnership will also support BlueNalu’s ongoing work with the UK Government. In March, the Government announced that BlueNalu had joined the UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) regulatory programme to speed up the approval process for cultivated-grown foods. The programme enables BlueNalu to work with the FSA to navigate the regulatory process for novel foods and ensure the highest food safety and transparency standards.
New research sponsored by BlueNalu also reveals strong enthusiasm among UK sushi consumers for cell-cultivated bluefin tuna toro, which will be its first commercial product. In a survey of 2,000 frequent sushi eaters conducted in 2024, 92% of respondents expressed interest in trying the product. The top perceived benefits included its potential absence of parasites, pesticides, microplastics, mercury, and antibiotics, followed by high omega-3 content. Additionally, 74% expressed willingness to pay the same or more compared to conventional bluefin tuna, due to its potential benefits.
Lou Cooperhouse, founder, president, and CEO of BlueNalu noted that cell-cultivated bluefin toro offers a 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 are proud to work with trusted partners and forward-thinking regulatory agencies to deliver safe, consistent, and desirable seafood to consumers in the coming years,” Cooperhouse said. “Our acceptance into the UK regulatory sandbox reinforces BlueNalu’s position as a global company at the forefront of food system innovation.”
Jim Mellon, executive chair of Agronomics said: “Today’s news further exemplifies the ongoing momentum in the cultivated food sector across the globe. This research also confirms what we have known for some time, that there is a strong demand from consumers, who want food options which are not only more sustainable, but ones which are healthier and better for themselves and the planet. We are looking forward to BlueNalu making waves in the UK, as its partnership with Nomad Foods will drive forward innovation in the clean food industry.”
To date, Agronomics has invested a total of US$ 8.0 million (c.£6.1 million) in BlueNalu.
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