BlueNalu strengthens partnerships with Mitsubishi, Thai Union, Pulmuone

San Diego, California, U.S.A.-based BlueNalu has signed new agreements with the Mitsubishi Corporation, Thai Union, and Pulmuone.

The cell-cultured seafood specialist announced it has signed new independent memorandums of understanding (MoU) with each company. The new MoUs expand on earlier agreements that the company signed in 2021 with Mitsubishi and Thai Union and an agreement signed with Pulmuone in 2020.

"We are honored to deepen our collaborations with Mitsubishi Corporation, Pulmuone Co. and Thai Union, visionary partners who share our commitment to driving innovation and shaping the future of the seafood industry,” BlueNalu President and CEO Lou Cooperhouse said in a release. 

The partnerships are all with companies headquartered in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region – Mitsubishi in Japan, Pulmuone in South Korea, and Thai Union in Thailand – and are intended to help support BlueNalu’s planned introduction of its cell-cultured seafood products in the region.

The new agreements will help BlueNalu in three key areas: market research to identify consumer trends in the region, assistance with understanding the regulatory requirements the company will need to negotiate to distribute its products, and developing a supply chain strategy to introduce its products to the region, it said.

BlueNalu has announced plans to build a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in its bid to scale up production of its cell-cultured seafood. BlueNalu CEO Lou Cooperhouse told SeafoodSource the company has “accomplished all the foundational technologies needed for scale.” Its first product under development is the high-value “toro” portion of bluefin tuna – a product sought after in Asia. 

 “These extended partnerships in the APAC region underscore our dedication to working collaboratively with local experts in each region that we target, and our ultimate goal to provide our customers with healthy and trusted seafood options that have superior product benefits and align with evolving market conditions,” Cooperhouse said.  

Photo courtesy of BlueNalu