Central Seaway Company (CenSea), a subsidiary of India-based online trading marketplace Captain Fresh, has purchased the brand portfolio of Ocean Garden.
Captain Fresh first expanded into the U.S. frozen seafood market with the acquisition of CenSea – one of the county’s largest shrimp importers – in February 2024. According to a release from CenSea, the acquisition of Ocean Garden augments the company’s existing brand portfolio and strengthens its position in the country’s market.
“This acquisition unites two large U.S. seafood importers and distributors – CenSea, a leader in Asian shrimp and other seafood products from around the world, and Ocean Garden, a leader in Mexican and Ecuadorian shrimp – strengthening the Captain Fresh powerhouse of brands,” the company said.
The exact terms of the deal were not disclosed by either company.
Captain Fresh has expanded rapidly across India since its founding in 2019, and in 2024, Captain Fresh CEO Utham Gowda told SeafoodSource the company should close in on USD 700 million (EUR 676 million) in topline growth in 2024.
For CenSea, the acquisition of Ocean Garden will expand its product offerings and access to shrimp, CenSea Co-President Nate Torch said.
Ocean Garden is headquartered in San Diego, California, U.S.A., and is a leading importer, exporter, and sales company of a number of species of shrimp. The company deals in Mexican white shrimp, wild brown shrimp, and other seafood products and celebrated its 65th anniversary in business in 2022.
“They [Ocean Garden] are known for their quality, and they have an established demand for their products throughout the seafood industry. We are excited to leverage the strength of their brand and product portfolio to provide a stronger basket and a greater variety of products to our customers,” Torch said. “The seafood industry is continuing to evolve, and by joining forces with Ocean Garden, we are further positioning ourselves to create a more resilient and customer-centric seafood conglomerate.”
CenSea Co-President Jeff Stern – who was recently given the Primaduta Award by Indonesia for his role in expanding the distribution of Indonesian seafood – said the company plans to enhance Ocean Garden’s operations and expand the company’s product portfolios.
“We are preserving their legacy and enhancing it – ensuring that customers continue to receive the premium-quality seafood they trust, now with even greater efficiency and broader offerings,” Stern said.
With the merger, Ocean Garden President and CEO Celso Lopez will continue to oversee the company under the leadership of CenSea’s co-presidents Torch and Stern.
Lopez told SeafoodSource in 2022 that farmed shrimp presents significant value for grocery and foodservice buyers and that Ocean Garden had been evolving into a company that dealt in a wider variety of seafood.
“Our customers will continue to receive the same exceptional service and quality seafood that has defined Ocean Garden’s success since 1957,” Lopez said. “What’s most exciting is that with our synergies with CenSea and Captain Fresh group’s technology-driven approach, we now have the opportunity to set new standards for excellence in seafood sourcing and distribution.”
