Gradient Aquaculture’s announcement of a merger with Shandong Tongxing Food Co., forming GradienTong, is the natural result of five years of working together, Gradient’s Noam Weinber Sehayek told SeafoodSource during the China Fisheries Expo in Qingdao, China.
Sehayek is a veteran of the seafood industry in China, getting his start in 2003 with a shrimp farm. Since then, the company has shifted from shrimp to producing more products tailored to the specific tastes of the customer.
Shandong, Sehayek said, has been a long-time partner that has given them great results, and the partnership is an official acknowledgement of the close relationship the two companies have.
“We merged together with them, and now is the first time we exhibit, and say to the people, ‘hello,’” Sehayek said.
He added that the two companies have had a relationship for five years, and the merger comes thanks to Shandong’s willingness to match and understand the standards that Gradient had requested over that time.
“They are open to listen[ing], they are open to adapt[ing] better ways,” Sehayek said. “They are open to do anything, they are willing to listen.”
Producing in China, he said, is essential for the types of products that GradienTong brings to the market. Many of them, like the company’s fish balls and fish burgers, are difficult to replicate through machine processes.
“We produce the basic in China, because no one in Europe will do for you hand-made stuff,” Sehayek said. Hand-made, he added, is part of the company’s philosophy and producing hig- quality goods.
“My slogan is, I want to eat my food and say ‘wow,’” Sehayek said.
As the market evolves, Sehayek said they plan to venture into more plant-based products, following the trend of increasing vegan offerings from companies. The company also has a focus on products that are easy to prepare, to appeal to customers who historically don’t want to eat traditional seafood products.
The new partnership will be a natural way to continue the research and development the company has focused on, to produce high quality products.
“I want people to come back and love my product, and I want people to really understand, it’s not just a slogan, I give my soul into it,” Sehayek said.
Photo courtesy of Chris Chase/SeafoodSource
