Good Catch

Good Catch Foods develops and produces plant-based seafood alternatives. Its product line includes fish-free tuna, crab-free crab cakes, and plant-based fish fillets and burgers. These items are crafted to replicate the taste and texture of conventional seafood, offering sustainable and nutritious options. The company uses a proprietary blend of legumes to achieve authentic sensory profiles.

Founded in 2016, Good Catch was conceived by co-founders Eric Schnell, Marci Zaroff, Derek Sarno, and Chad Sarno. Their insight addressed environmental and health impacts of traditional seafood. Leveraging expertise in natural foods and culinary arts, the founders aimed to create compelling plant-based alternatives that support ocean conservation and an ethical food system.

Good Catch serves consumers, including vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians, seeking sustainable, ethical food choices. The company strives to broaden plant-based diet adoption by making delicious seafood alternatives accessible. Its long-term vision is to transform the global food system, reducing reliance on conventional fishing and promoting planetary well-being and animal welfare through innovative culinary solutions.

# Good Catch: Plant-Based Seafood Pioneer

High-Level Overview

Good Catch is a plant-based seafood company that creates fish alternatives including fillets, fish sticks, crab cakes, and tuna products using a proprietary blend of legumes.[7] The company addresses a critical gap in the plant-based protein market: while plant-based meat alternatives proliferated, plant-based seafood remained largely underdeveloped.[1] Good Catch serves environmentally conscious consumers and foodservice operators seeking sustainable protein options without compromising on taste or texture.[7]

The company has achieved significant growth momentum, raising $36.8 million in Series B funding and expanding from U.S. retail into international markets including the UK through Tesco.[1][4] In a major strategic move, Good Catch was acquired by Wicked Kitchen, a chef-founded plant-based brand, combining both companies' product portfolios to create what is now the largest variety of animal-free consumer packaged goods in the industry, available at more than 30,000 distribution points.[3]

Origin Story

Good Catch was founded by Derek and Chad Sarno, accomplished chefs and food entrepreneurs who previously created Tesco's Wicked Kitchen range.[4] The company emerged from a deliberate market observation: while consumer demand for plant-based proteins surged, the seafood category remained underserved.[1] Rather than license or partner with existing manufacturers, the founders made the innovative decision to develop their own products, recognizing both a white space opportunity and their culinary expertise as a competitive advantage.[1]

The company's early success attracted significant investment and retail partnerships. It entered the UK market in January 2020 through Tesco distribution and subsequently expanded to restaurant partnerships, including Veggie Grill.[1][4] The acquisition by Wicked Kitchen in late 2024 represented validation of the business model and an opportunity to consolidate complementary plant-based brands under unified leadership while maintaining separate brand identities.[3]

Core Differentiators

• Proprietary ingredient blend: Good Catch uses a non-GMO six-legume combination of peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans, and navy beans that delivers both protein and seafood-like flakiness without environmental impact.[4][7]

• Culinary-driven approach: Founded by professional chefs, the company prioritizes taste and texture parity with traditional seafood rather than treating plant-based products as nutritional compromises.[1][4]

• Mission alignment: The brand is built on environmental stewardship—reducing ocean harm, preserving marine ecosystems, and raising consumer consciousness about sustainable food choices.[1][3]

• Manufacturing control: The company opened its own manufacturing facility in Heath, Ohio, eliminating production constraints and enabling global scalability.[1]

• Broad product portfolio: Offerings span frozen and ambient categories including tuna, fish fillets, fish sticks, crab cakes, and fish burgers, with continued innovation planned across 200-300 ocean species consumed globally.[4][7]

Role in the Broader Food Landscape

Good Catch rides the accelerating plant-based protein wave, but with strategic focus on an underserved category. While plant-based beef and chicken alternatives became crowded markets, seafood alternatives remained nascent—creating first-mover advantages in a category with unique environmental urgency given overfishing and ocean ecosystem collapse.[1][4]

The timing proved ideal: consumer demand for sustainable proteins coincided with retail expansion (Tesco, major U.S. chains) and foodservice partnerships seeking differentiated offerings.[1][4] The company's acquisition by Wicked Kitchen signals broader consolidation in the plant-based space, where scale, distribution, and culinary credibility increasingly determine market success.[3]

Good Catch influences the ecosystem by legitimizing plant-based seafood as a viable category rather than a niche experiment, encouraging competitors and retailers to invest in this space and demonstrating that mission-driven brands can achieve both commercial success and environmental impact.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Good Catch has successfully transitioned from startup to acquisition target by solving a genuine market gap with products that deliver on taste and environmental promise. The Wicked Kitchen acquisition positions the combined entity to dominate plant-based seafood while leveraging Wicked Kitchen's broader plant-based portfolio and distribution network.

The company's future hinges on scaling international presence (particularly Europe), expanding the product range across more ocean species, and maintaining culinary excellence as competition intensifies.[4] As ocean sustainability becomes a mainstream consumer concern and regulatory pressure on seafood sourcing increases, plant-based seafood alternatives will likely shift from novelty to staple—positioning Good Catch as a foundational player in this inevitable transition.