Kats, The Netherlands-based The Kingfish Company has entered into a supply contract with French retailer Auchan as a part of its expansion plans for the European market.
The land-based yellowtail producer’s fish will be available in Auchan stores throughout France from this month, with the agreement focusing on the supply of whole Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certified fish.
The new contract follows an announcement on 18 October that the Kingfish Company had reached a similar retail agreement struck in the Italian market with Conad.
In a filing with the Oslo Stock Exchange, The Kingfish Company said Auchan is one of the five largest supermarket chains in France. Auchan has a footprint in European 13 countries, with its offer encompassing all food trade formats – hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, click-and collect, and e-commerce – with some 1,985 points of sale, The Kingfish Company said.
The Kingfish Company’s fish is produced at its Kingfish Zeeland recirculating aquaculture system facility in the Netherlands. This farm recently increased its harvest capacity from 1,250 metric tons (MT) to 1,500 MT per year, and an expansion project is underway that is expected to take this up to 3,500 MT in the second half of 2022.
It is also seeking permission for an 8,500-MT capacity facility in the U.S. state of Maine, with a production start scheduled for the second half of 2023.
Photo courtesy of HJBC/Shutterstock
