SAN DIEGO- BlueNalu, Inc., a leading food technology company developing cell-based seafood products, announced several key strategic developments including a substantial expansion of the company’s operations, the hiring of a Chief Financial Officer, and the enhancement of its R&D, project management, and engineering teams.
BlueNalu has signed a lease for an expansion to its administrative, R&D and manufacturing space with a new facility in San Diego that is more than 38,000 sq. feet, a six-fold increase over the current BlueNalu space. The larger facility will include a Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) pilot-scale food production plant that will be designed for the commercial production of BlueNalu’s various cell-based seafood products in its initial test markets. The new location will also feature the first BlueNalu kitchen and demonstration space, providing up-close-and-personal culinary experiences with cutting-edge chefs and sustainable seafood ambassadors, as well as a peek into BlueNalu’s production process.
BlueNalu continues to develop its platform technology that enables production of a broad array of marine species, initially focusing on finfish including mahi mahi, red snapper, tuna, and yellowtail. BlueNalu is developing cell-based seafood products that will be healthy for consumers, humane for sea life, and sustainable for our planet, and will be free of harmful levels of mercury, pathogens, parasites, microplastics, and other environmental contaminants. Importantly, BlueNalu’s products are designed to have the same taste, texture, and performance as conventional seafood in all cooking and preparation methods. BlueNalu recently demonstrated that its yellowtail product had the same culinary characteristics as conventional yellowtail in all preparation applications, with the ability to be prepared in the raw form, cooked form (seared, grilled, broiled, fried, and microwaved), and prepared via acidification (e.g. in ceviche, poke, and kimchi applications).
“The announcement of this new facility is an exciting milestone for BlueNalu, as it is our intent to launch our products in the marketplace during the second-half of 2021,” said Lou Cooperhouse, CEO of BlueNalu. “I am also pleased today to announce the hiring of Amir Feder as our CFO, who will work closely with me on investor relations, corporate governance and our long-term corporate strategy.”
Amir Feder has an extensive background in corporate finance with more than 20 years of experience supporting founder-led innovative organizations through rapid development, including in the tech, media, entertainment and real estate industries. Most recently, he was CFO of Hughes Marino, a Southern California based commercial real estate firm, where he led all aspects of the firm’s finances and partnered with the executive team to optimize margins and target strategic acquisitions. Previously, Feder was the Global CFO of Droga5, an iconic and award-winning advertising agency, where he led the landmark sale of Droga5 to Accenture.
“I am thrilled to join the BlueNalu team as CFO. It is a privilege to participate in this dynamic and market-disrupting company and fulfill BlueNalu’s vision to positively impact global food security, ocean conservation and human health through innovation,” said Amir Feder, CFO of BlueNalu. “With our new larger facility and the impressive developments in our technology, this initiates phase three of our five-phase commercialization strategy. It is an exciting time as we are leading a new category of food innovation and poised for a successful market launch.”
BlueNalu has also recently expanded its team in its project management, technology, product development, and engineering areas, and anticipates doubling its staff to approximately 50 team members during the next 9-12 months.
Cooperhouse added “BlueNalu is continually exploring opportunities for growth, and proactively investigating the expansive opportunities for our cellular aquaculture process. We have developed an internal think tank, BlueNalu Innovations, to explore these opportunities, and implement the collaborations and partnerships that will help us to realize the breadth of our vision.”
BlueNalu’s new facility and the expansion of its team follows recent news regarding the completion of its $20 million Series A round of financing. The company has attracted investors from 11 nations to date, originating from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America. BlueNalu has also attracted strategic investments from Griffith Foods, a global product development partner to the food industry; Nutreco, a global leader in animal nutrition and aquafeed; Pulmuone, a global leader in healthy lifestyle and sustainable food products; Rich Products Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Rich Products Corporation, a leading multinational supplier of food products; and Sumitomo Corporation of America, a global investor and supplier of good and services, including foods.
For more information about BlueNalu, please visit www.BlueNalu.com.
About BlueNalu
BlueNalu’s mission is to be the global leader in cellular aquaculture, providing consumers with great tasting, healthy, safe, and trusted cell-based seafood products that support the sustainability and diversity of our ocean. BlueNalu first established its operations in 2018 and is based in San Diego, California.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements related to the market demand and necessity of BlueNalu’s products, the development and commercialization of BlueNalu’s products, the launching of BlueNalu’s products publicly, the type and characteristics of products that BlueNalu will produce, and BlueNalu’s ability to expand its team and build partnerships. These forward-looking statements are based on BlueNalu’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks that BlueNalu’s actual future financial and operating results may differ from its expectations or goals, BlueNalu’s ability to commercialize and successfully launch its products, risks relating to BlueNalu’s ability to successfully implement its business strategies, competition, including potential generic competition, the ability to protect intellectual property and defend patents, regulatory obligations and oversight, including any changes in the legal and regulatory environment in which BlueNalu operates among others. BlueNalu undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information.
