Canadian group Sofina Foods, parent of UK giant Young's Seafood, is launching a new range of plant-based alternatives to its fish products, diversifying its frozen offerings in Europe.
"This new range will allow our group to meet the demand of vegetarian or flexitarian consumers and to expand our penetration rate to households that do not consume fish," the company said.
The plant-based line, produced by Young's and Sofina's European seafood processing operation Greenland Seafood, includes breaded fingers, burgers and breaded fish cakes.
Last year, Canada's Sofina Foods purchased the brand and also scooped up the UK's Young's, marking a new era in the timeline of the UK's most prominent seafood brand, with its first owner outside British shores.
Greenland Seafood's factories, located on the coast at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, and Wimille, France, produce millions of fish-based meals a day, according to the company.
Young's parent company, Eight Fifty Food Group, at the time controlled by CapVest Partners, acquired Greenland Seafood in 2020. The Eight Fifty Food Group, including Young's, was acquired by Canada's Sofina Foods in 2021.
Competitors of Young's have been in the plant-based space for several years. In 2019, Nomad Foods, parent of Birds Eye and Iglo brands, launched a Green Cuisine line in the United Kingdom, aimed at the growing vegan foods market.
In 2020, German frozen seafood Frosta debuted its plant-based seafood startup Fisch Vom Feld, which translates to "Fish From the Field."
