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Yet, more good news for the oceans and sea life!
In a year that could have easily brought production to a grinding halt, Good Catch Foods have expressed much gratitude to have celebrated many successes in the plant-based space…and we’re only in August!
If you’re new here, Good Catch Foods is the chef-led plant-based seafood company, co-founded by creators of Wicked Healthy; chefs Chad and Derek Sarno. Launching originally with a clean and plant-based tuna alternative, over the past 2 years, the brand has now branched out internationally and hit freezers with their products across the States.
This week’s news may be one of the most significant announcements so far, as it’s 3 years in the making. Gathered Foods, makers of Good Catch Foods, have just opened a state-of-the-art 42,500 sq ft manufacturing facility in Ohio. The facility currently has 52 employees and is on track to expand to full capacity with up to 80 positions by the end of the year. Not only does this create a positive result for the planet, but also the local community.
"We are incredibly proud to establish a strong manufacturing footprint in the U.S. as we grow our product portfolio. With Good Catch's rapid expansion and the launch of our new line of frozen plant-based entrees and appetizers, having our own production facility enables us to optimize productivity and efficiency. We are fully committed to delivering high-quality plant-based seafood products that delight and satisfy our consumers each and every time."
This space has the capability of producing $100 million worth of plant-based protein annually. Pretty staggering numbers and when you crunch it down, that’s a lot of sea life being saved!
We caught up with Good Catch co-founder, Chad Sarno, for a quick chat about 2020 so far:
Absolutely. We are seeing and will continue to see, a ton of forward momentum and innovation in the plant protein sector compared to 10 years ago. The impact opportunity to really disrupt the seafood category is enormous, so seizing the opportunity now makes sense. From our standpoint at Good Catch, we see this as a huge innovation opportunity and are very excited to share our products and future pipeline with the foodservice industry.
We are extremely grateful for the momentum that continues to push plants forward. At Good Catch, we will be diving into the foodservice space in the coming autumn months, and while understanding how this space is shifting with COVID, we feel the excitement of restaurants being able to offer plant-based tuna melts, for example, on menus in the near future.
Globally, we consume between 250-300 species of animals from the ocean, compared to around 30 from the land. Being able to put extremely high-quality offerings in the marketplace that make sure people don’t “miss” the taste of seafood could relieve the huge pressure being placed on our aquatic ecosystems. That’s very exciting to me and a source of great hope for the health of our oceans moving forward.
Once we were able to develop the protein texture, the sky was the limit when it came to application work! I am really proud of our frozen line, Crab Cakes, Thai Fish Cakes, and Classic White Fish Style Burger. The burger in particular is very reminiscent of a lightly seasoned white fish burger I used to have as a kid growing up on the coast of New England. Paired with horseradish tartar on a buttered bun- it definitely brings me back to childhood.
Wondering what this vegan seafood is made of? It’s a proprietary six-legume blend (peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans, and navy beans). And the fishy flavor? A superior umami taste is created from seaweed and algae extracts. Trust us, it tastes just like the real deal. As an added bonus, all Good Catch ® products are free of dairy, GMOs, mercury, toxins, microplastics, microfibers, and are safe and enjoyable for those with shellfish allergies.
At this rate, we’ll have plenty more great news to announce over the coming months, but if you haven’t tried Good Catch yet, what are you waiting for!
Get your hands on some Good Catch – check the store locator here.
Want to get cooking? Give these Good Catch recipes a go!