Vegan Tuna Is The Next Big Frontier In The Plant-Based Industry. These 6 Brands Are Leading It.

The plant-based industry has undoubtedly undergone massive growth over the past few years, with vegan burger patties and meatballs taking over supermarket store shelves at restaurant menus. But as the market matures, the next frontier appears to be vegan seafood. And one category. in particular, is leading the pack: vegan tuna. 

Don’t believe it? These 6 brands of plant-based tuna have already landed on the market, and hail from all over the world. Let’s take a look. 

1. Fish Peas

Fish Peas is the latest product to join the vegan tuna space, launched by Latvian canned seafood giant Karavela. Made from protein isolate derived from yellow peas grown domestically in Latvia, the new range includes canned Fishly Flakes, Fishly Salad and Fishly Spread, each coming in two different flavour varieties. Launched just this month, Karavela says while it initially “had doubts about the plant-based food market”, it “gradually became aware” of the need to move with the times and “address the pressing issue of sustainable food production”. 

2. BettaF!sh

BettaF!sh is a German startup that just began rolling out its flagship product, TU-NAH, across the country in partnership with retail giant Aldi. The Berlin-based food tech’s fish-free alternative contains no soybeans or wheat, but is made from organic fava beans and seaweed. Consumers can grab a bite of the brand’s vegan tuna in more than 4,000 Aldi stores in Germany, where 3 varieties of 100% plant-based tuna sandwiches are sold. 

3. Sensational Vuna

Sensational Vuna is a vegan tuna alternative developed and launched by Nestlé, at the time marking the Swiss food giant’s first-ever foray into the plant-based seafood market. It is sold under Nestlé’s plant-based brand Garden Gourmet in Europe, and is made from pea protein. Right now, Sensational Vuna is sold in a chilled glass jar via retail channels, as well as in pre-made plant-based tuna sandwiches available in select European markets.

4. Future Tuna (Futuro Atum)

Future Tuna is the latest product to join Brazilian food tech Future Farm’s (Fazenda Futuro) plant-based range, adding to its line-up of vegan sausages, burger patties and meatballs. It represents the brand’s first entry into the alt-seafood space, and is made from pea protein, chickpea protein and sunflower oil. It also contains algae oil, which gives its fishy taste and texture, as well as providing a good source of omega 3s. 

5. OmniTuna

OmniTuna is developed by Hong Kong-based OmniFoods, the food tech arm of Green Monday behind the world-famous vegan pork analogue OmniPork. It has been launched as part of the brand’s new OmniSeafood range, which includes other seafood alternatives such as crab cakes and fish fillets. OmniTuna, which is currently being served across Green Common outlets in Hong Kong before making its retail debut later on, is made from non-GMO soybeans and contains omega 3s from algae oil. 

6. Hooked Toonish

Hooked Toonish is the first product launched by Swedish food tech Hooked Foods. The brand currently sells three flavours of Toonish, which is available in retail chains as well as restaurants across Sweden. It is made from soy protein, wheat protein, sunflower oil and algae. Right now, Hooked, which bagged €3.8 million in funding last month, is also working on developing vegan shredded salmon. 

Lead image courtesy of Nestlé.