Gathered Foods, an Austin, Texas-based producer of frozen faux seafood products sold under the Good Catch brand, has launched a line of plant-based breaded fish sticks, fish fillets and crab cakes. The range is made from a proprietary six-legume blend consisting of peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans and navy beans.
Retail packs sell for $5.99, with the alternative fish sticks and fillets delivering 12 grams of protein per serving. The entree-sized faux crab cakes, which check in at 15 grams per serving, are promoted as featuring a “lump crabmeat-like texture and sweet crab flavor complemented with bell peppers, green onions, parsley and a hint of spice.”
“These products are game-changers for the industry,” said Chad Sarno, co-founder and chief culinary officer at Gathered Foods. “Consumers have become more aware of the environmental impact of eating seafood and we’re proud to be a delicious, culinary-driven solution. We’re pushing culinary boundaries every day to deliver the taste and texture consumers expect from seafood.”
According to the Good Food Institute (GFI), the retail market for plant-based foods in the United States is now worth $7 billion. Furthermore, the FactMR market research firm estimates that the plant-based seafood substitute sector is set to grow at a rate of 28% over the next decade and be worth $1.3 billion by 2031.
“This nascent industry, which is ready to surge, presents an immense opportunity for our brand,” said Christine Mei, chief executive officer of Gathered Foods. “As we continue to grow, our focus remains on creating craveable plant-based seafood alternatives that deliver on taste, texture and comparable protein. With our new breaded line, we took fan-favorite seafood products consumers know and love, and transformed them into great-tasting ocean-friendly alternatives.”
The new breaded line will be available in June at select retail stores in the USA including Giant Food, Martin’s, Tom Thumb, Randalls and Acme, as well as select Safeway and Albertsons. Good Catch has significant expanded distribution in both retail and foodservice sectors planned for late summer and fall of this year.
