The vegan lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular around the world as more people cut animal products from their diets. One food category seeing major innovation is seafood alternatives, especially plant-based versions of tuna. From Europe to Asia and North America, vegan tuna is disrupting a multi-billion dollar industry.
Early Adoption in Europe
Europe has led the way in developing and adopting vegan seafood options. Several startups have gained popularity creating plant-based tuna products that mimic the texture and taste of the real thing.
Anthropic, a San Francisco based company, launched its vegan tuna in several European countries in late 2020. Made from legumes, seaweed and plant fats, Anthropic Tuna is high in protein and low in calories compared to meat-based tuna. It sold out within days of hitting supermarket shelves in Germany, France and the UK.
Good Catch, another leading vegan seafood brand, debuted its plant-based tuna in late 2021. Distributed throughout Europe, Good Catch Tuna Floks are crafted from wakame seaweed, nuts, and plant proteins. Early consumer reviews praised its flaky texture and subtle smoky flavor. Within 6 months, Good Catch captured over 5% of the tuna market in countries like Denmark and Netherlands.
Asian Expansion and Innovation
Asia is a massive market for seafood but also leads the globe in plant-based innovation. Vegan tuna startups from Singapore and Japan are making waves.
Singapore-based Sophie’s Kitchen released their “Tuna” Patties and Bites in Asia and Australia in 2021 to wide acclaim. Made from jackfruit, hearts of palm and pea protein, Sophie's products have a texture nearly identical to canned tuna. Their vegan tuna has become popular salad and sandwich ingredients.
Japanese food giant. Nissin launched its first plant-based tuna product in late 2021 – a vegan tuna mayonnaise. By combining pea and soy proteins with seaweed, Nissin replicated the umami and rich creaminess of traditional tuna mayo. Within months, Nissin Vegan Tuna Mayo outsold canned tuna varieties in urban supermarkets across Japan.
With its focus on plant-based seafood, North America is also taking off as a major testing ground and consumer market for Global Vegan Tuna innovations.
North American Trailblazers
California leads the United States in vegan seafood startups. Los Angeles-based Avant Meats debuted an uncanny vegan “tuna” salad in 2020 made from soy, shiitake mushrooms and seaweed extracts. Avant’s tuna salad looked, tasted and even melted like the dairy-based variety on sandwiches. Grocery stores struggled to keep it in stock.
Seattle-based craft food company The Wonderful debuted its single-serve Vegan Tuna Pouches in 2021. Filled with flaked “tuna” made from chickpeas, hearts of palm and kelp, Wonderful Tuna won over flexitarians looking for a healthier lunch option. The pouches launched in Whole Foods nationwide where they continue gaining loyal customers.
Canadian startups have also broken into the North American vegan seafood space. Plant-based food company Nova Lambic debuted its flaked “tuna” made from organic chickpeas and seaweed in early 2022 at grocery retailers across Canada and parts of the United States. Customers praised its texture and ability to stand in for canned fish in recipes.
Bright Future for Global Vegan Tuna
As awareness of sustainable eating grows, vegan tuna seems poised to capture more market share globally. Plant-based food analysts predict vegan fish and seafood could reach 10% of the worldwide seafood market within 5 years.
Cultured meat technologies may also revolutionize the future of tuna. Several emerging biotech companies aim to harvest cells from tuna to cultivate the fish without catching or raising animals. This cellular aquaculture method could satisfy consumer demand for tuna while eliminating ecological impacts of overfishing.
Whereas a decade ago vegan seafood seemed improbable, plant-based innovations have made the notion of tuna without tuna a reality appreciated by both environmentalists and flexitarians worldwide. As global interest grows in sustainable, health-conscious diets, vegan tuna appears firmly anchored in the pantries and menus of tomorrow. The tuna industry now faces new competition from an unlikely foe - plants.
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