Karkkila-based FoodTech firm Hailia introduced a €1.75 million funding spherical to show sidestreams from fish processing, akin to heads, fins, and frames, into ready-to-eat meals merchandise for human consumption.
The spherical contains new buyers Holdix and Ikorni Make investments, alongside a syndicate of returning and new buyers. This additionally features a new strategic partnership with Finnish seafood processor Kalavapriikki, to broaden the worldwide licensing of Hailia’s know-how, and with Danish engineering firm Dana Expertise, who will be a part of as a strategic know-how supplier.
“Utilizing sidestreams for human meals was once a nice-to-have, however now it’s an trade must-have. Evaluating conversations with processors at commerce exhibits final 12 months to this 12 months, we see an enormous uptick in curiosity, not for the long run however for proper now. Having Kalavapriikki and Dana Expertise invested in our future offers us the boldness and means to grab these alternatives that we already know are there,” says Michaela Lindström, CEO of Hailia.
Hailia Nordic Oy develops novel and resource-efficient seafood processing applied sciences, producing progressive seafood merchandise. Based in 2021, Hailia goals to revolutionizse useful resource effectivity within the seafood trade by maximizing using underutilised fish uncooked supplies. Hailia’s know-how transforms these supplies into high-value seafood merchandise, contributing to a extra sustainable meals system.
The corporate additionally licenses its cutting-edge know-how to worldwide fish processing corporations. The corporate’s buyers and companions embody Nordic Foodtech VC, Heino Group Oy, and Tradeka-sijoitus Oy.
The corporate launched its first commercially obtainable product, “pulled rainbow trout,” with Kalavapriikki and Finnish grocery store chief S-Group in 2024. The identical 12 months, the corporate additionally launched merchandise obtainable to meals service and industrial kitchens in collaboration with fish processor Hätälä. The brand new partnership commits your entire provide chain, from gear manufacturing to finish prospects, to making sure Hailia’s additional development.
Kalavapriikki has licensed Hailia’s know-how. Whereas the merchandise are marketed below the Kalavapriikki model, they’re at present manufactured by Hailia and are already obtainable available on the market. Hailia holds unique rights to make use of the know-how in seafood purposes.
The corporate can also be in talks with a number of international producers of salmonoids, pelagics, and whitefish for licensing its know-how.
“We’ve got seen the influence of Hailia’s know-how in our personal manufacturing. Not solely are we utilizing extra of the fish and decreasing our carbon footprint, however we’re additionally in a position to create fully new merchandise for our prospects. We consider this know-how is the way forward for fish processing, and we had been by no means doubtful about desirous to be an energetic a part of that journey,” says Jari Korhonen, CEO of Kalavapriikki.
In accordance with knowledge supplied by Hailia, the world’s seafood consumption is anticipated to extend by 50% by 2050, highlighting a transparent want for brand spanking new low-carbon protein sources. To satisfy the demand, the seafood trade might want to enhance its useful resource effectivity. Sidestreams have primarily been utilised for animal feed, oils, or well being merchandise, however utilizing 20-40% extra of the fish for human consumption is a major step in direction of assembly rising demand and introducing new and wholesome meals merchandise to shoppers.
Hailia’s licensing mannequin offers fish processors entry to its know-how and gear at their very own manufacturing websites. With the funding and partnership with engineering companion Dana Expertise, Hailia is ready to broaden its international attain, additional develop its know-how, and cater to the wants of meals producers worldwide.
“Engineering is drawback fixing, and with Hailia, we’ve been in a position to resolve an enormous one. The seafood trade has an incredible quantity of sidestreams, and whereas they’ve been used to feed animals or as dietary supplements, they haven’t contributed to international meals safety. Hailia has modified that fully, and the trade has taken discover. We are able to’t wait to see the place the following steps will take us,” provides Vagn Hansen, CEO of Dana Expertise.
