Scout
Toronto, Ontario, Canada-based Scout has built its brand upon canning lesser-known, local seafood species.
The company sources 100 percent of its species off the coasts of Canada and the U.S., and says it’s the first craft canned seafood line to do so. Its sustainable canned seafood line debuted in Whole Foods Market stores and other online and physical retailers in September 2020.
“We are focused on biodiversity with our products, bringing under-loved species to consumers and breaking away from only offering the standard tuna and salmon in a can,” Scout CEO and Co-Founder Adam Bent told SeafoodSource at the time of launch. “Most products you find in store today are imported from overseas. We source directly from the fishery, and our products are hand-cut and hand-packed in Canada.”
Scout’s canned range includes Atlantic Canadian Lobster, made with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified lobster; Prince Edwards Island Mussels in a Smoked Paprika and Fennel Tomato Sauce, featuring rope-grown mussels; Ontario Trout with Dill; Albacore Tuna with Organic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, which contains MSC-certified albacore tuna; and Albacore Tuna with Garden Pesto, which also includes MSC-certified albacore tuna.
Scout’s offerings sync up well with some predominant consumption trends. Not only are people on the lookout for local, sustainable products, but they’re also drawn to high-quality tinned seafood, or conservas – characteristics that sit squarely in Scout’s wheelhouse.
“Once tapas and wine bars started introducing tinned seafood, there seemed to be a groundswell of people integrating canned seafood into meals at home," Scout Co-Founder and MSC Ambassador Chef Charlotte Langley said.
The craft line is backed by a number of investors, including Alamanac Insights, Navitas Organics Co-Founder Wes Crain, REBBL Co-Founders David Batstone and Mark Wexler, and Fairway Grocery's Dan Glickberg. Alamanac Investments Co-Founder David Barber said Scout “is well-positioned for success," especially considering its transparent business model and innovative product creations.
"Consumers' palettes are changing, which presents an opening in the market for healthier options,” Barber said, adding that deciding to invest in Scout wasn’t a difficult decision.
In addition to sustainable sourcing, Scout is also committed to “regenerative packaging materials, and never any plastics,” it said. The company packages its products in aluminum cans, which are composed of 70 percent recycled materials – “significant when compared to the runner-up, glass jars, which are composed of 23 percent recycled content,” the company wrote on its blog.
“Each can of Scout tells a tale of responsibility,” it said. “Starting from the fully recyclable FTC-certified box made of water-soluble non-toxic vegetable ink, to the 100 percent recyclable BPA-free aluminum can, and of course, the seafood. Scout is committed to ensuring that each seafood species in its lineup, including Atlantic Canadian Lobster, Wild Albacore Tuna, Organic PEI Mussels, and Ontario Trout, is made the most of, with an understanding that there are enough resources on this planet for everyone if utilized effectively.”
Photo courtesy of Scout
