The two originally partnered in 2021 and to date have explored opportunities to bring cell-cultivated seafood to select markets across the UK and Europe.
This new partnership will see the two companies work together to deliver a market-entry strategy in the UK, beginning with premium foodservice and limited-time offerings that align with consumer demand for ‘high-quality seafood options’.
BlueNalu’s partnership with Nomad will also support its ongoing work with the UK government – in March, the government announced that BlueNalu had joined the UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) pioneering regulatory programme to help speed up the approval process for cultivated-grown foods.
Regulatory process
The program enables BlueNalu to work collaboratively with the FSA to navigate the regulatory process for novel foods and ensure the highest food safety and transparency standards. BlueNalu is reportedly the only company within the program focused primarily on cell-cultivated seafood.
Lou Cooperhouse, founder, president, and CEO of BlueNalu, commented: “Our cell-cultivated bluefin toro offers a new, 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. Our acceptance into the UK regulatory sandbox reinforces BlueNalu’s position as a global company at the forefront of food system innovation.”
New research sponsored by BlueNalu found 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.
‘Ongoing momentum’
Jim Mellon, executive chair of BlueNalu parent company Agronomics, added: “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 (£6.1 million) in BlueNalu which, subject to audit, is currently carried at £13.0 million.
