Norwegian aquaculture firm Norcod is planning to launch a new sashimi product within the Chinese market this fall.
“We are combining our Snow Cod with salmon in a fresh, ready-to-eat Norwegian sashimi format,” Norcod COO Chris Guldberg told SeafoodSource.
Norcod touts its premium Snow Cod as having a firm texture and white, even-looking meat that provides “a clean and delicate flavor,” and the announcement of the fall launch combining Snow Cod with salmon is the latest move by the firm to make inroads with premium products in China, a market which Norcod has approached with a diligent, targeted marketing strategy, Guldberg said.
“Our strategy includes executing targeted efforts toward selected retailers, restaurants, and hotels. Naturally, building a new market takes time, especially for a refined and premium species like Snow Cod, which hasn’t previously existed. Raising awareness and providing product education to chefs, retailers, and consumers is a critical part of the journey,” he said. “We’re very pleased with the engagement and efforts of our customers, as well as support from the Norwegian Seafood Council. Both have demonstrated a strong understanding of the long-term potential and are making the necessary investments to help realize it. We truly appreciate their commitment to building something valuable for the future.”
The new product launch also builds upon momentum that started last year, when Norcod teamed up with Chinese seafood processor and distributor Shanghai Hecheng Food, which also operates under the name Hi-Chain, to distribute Snow Cod across the Asian nation’s retail sector.
“We firmly believe the brand we launched with Hi-Chain is an important step in terms of growing the Chinese market,” Guldberg said at the time. “Our Snow Cod is marketed and sold in the same way as salmon, and both Norcod and Hi-Chain believe that the long-term potential equals that of the salmon market. Just like salmon, our product is versatile and fresh, perfect for grilling, baking, and enjoying raw in sushi and sashimi. Just like salmon, we can provide customers with stable and reliable deliveries of a high-quality product all year round.”
Norwegian Seafood Council Country Director to China Sigmund Bjorgo said that Norcod’s bet has been an astute one, as weak consumer demand in China does not seem to be impinging on demand for imported Norwegian seafood including cod and salmon.
“I don’t see that the macroeconomy in China necessarily is a hurdle for Snow Cod, as it targets similar consumers as salmon,” he told SeafoodSource. “The Chinese salmon market has never before grown as much as it has in 2025.”
In July, Norway’s seafood exports hit another value record, largely thanks to a huge boost in demand from China.
The value of Norwegian salmon exports to China increased by 88 percent year over year in July, increasing by NOK 613 million (USD 60.1 million, EUR 51.6 million) to reach NOK 1.3 billion (USD 127 million, EUR 109 million).
