Hailia Oy

What Hailia Oy does

Hailia Nordic Oy is a Finnish food technology company founded in 2021 and headquartered in Karkkila, Finland. It develops and commercializes patent-pending seafood processing technology that transforms low-value filleting sidestreams (frames, heads, fins, and small pelagic fish such as Baltic herring) into ready-to-use food products with a solid texture resembling cooked fish fillets. The technology can upcycle up to 100% of filleting sidestreams without chemical processing and is suitable for integration into existing fish processing facilities, producing SKUs such as Pikkukalanyhtö (Pulled Small Fish), Pikkukalasuikale (Small Fish Strips), Pulled Rainbow Trout, and salmon sidestream products. Hailia holds exclusive rights to use the underlying equipment technology in seafood applications from Danish engineering partner Dana Technology, and is actively pursuing patent protection for both the manufacturing method and resulting product structures.

The company operates three revenue streams: contract manufacturing at its Karkkila facility (producing products under partner brands such as S Group's Kotimaista private label and Hailia's own Pikkukalanyhtö brand), branded product sales through retail (500+ S Group stores in Finland) and food service (via Hätälä's network spanning nine European countries), and technology licensing to fish processors globally. The first licensing agreement was signed with Kalavapriikki in December 2024 for deployment at their Kuopio facility by early 2026, and the company is in active negotiations with processors in Indonesia, Canada, and Australia.

Commercially, Hailia pivoted in 2023-2024 from own-brand small pelagic products to focusing on salmonoid and whitefish sidestreams through licensing and contract manufacturing. Major commercial milestones include the September 2024 launch of Pulled Rainbow Trout (36,000 units in month one), the December 2024 Kalavapriikki licensing deal, and a €1.75 million growth round in June 2025. The company has earned multiple industry recognitions (World Food Innovation Awards Best Technology 2024, UNIDO Business Award 2024, Top 30 European Circular Solutions for Nature), and operates with a 1-10 person team (planned to grow to ~12 at factory launch), funded by Nordic Foodtech VC, Heino Group, Tradeka-sijoitus, Holdix, and Ikorni Invest.

Name

Hailia Oy

Legal name

Hailia Nordic Oy

Website

https://hailia.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hailia Nordic Oy is a Finnish food technology company that commercializes patent-pending seafood processing technology transforming fish sidestreams (frames, heads, fins) into ready-to-use seafood products. It serves fish processors globally via licensing and contract manufacturing, and sells branded products through S Group retail and food service distributors in Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seafood Processing

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ready-to-Eat/Ready-to-Heat Seafood Meals (Prepared Foods) (AFANADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Seafood processing technology
• Fish sidestream upcycling
• Ready-to-use fish products
• Sustainable seafood manufacturing
• Fish byproduct valorization

Headquarters

HQ city

Uusikaupunki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing: Hailia produces seafood products at its Karkkila facility for fish processors who supply sidestreams. Products are sold under partner brands (e.g., S Group's Kotimaista private label) or Hailia's own brand (Pikkukalanyhtö, Pikkukalasuikale). This is the primary near-term revenue stream with commercial products already in market since September 2024.
2. Technology Licensing: Hailia licenses its patent-pending technology to fish processing companies globally. The first licensing agreement was signed with Kalavapriikki in December 2024 for implementation at their Kuopio facility by early 2026. Payback time for fish processors is measured in months rather than years. Sidestreams can be turned into food products sold at prices 10-15x higher than feed/oil.
3. Product Sales: Sale of branded seafood products (Pulled Rainbow Trout, salmon products, small fish products) through retail and food service channels. Products sold in over 500 S Group stores. First product (pulled rainbow trout) sold 36,000 consumer units in its first month (August 2024).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hailia Oy develops and commercializes patent-pending seafood processing technology that transforms underutilized fish sidestreams (frames, heads, fins, and small pelagic fish) into ready-to-use food products with a texture and mouthfeel resembling cooked fish fillets. The company operates three complementary revenue streams: contract manufacturing of branded seafood products (Pulled Rainbow Trout, Pikkukalanyhtö, Pikkukalasuikale, salmon sidestream products) at its Karkkila facility in Finland, and licensing of its proprietary processing technology to fish processors globally for in-house production implementation.

Product overview

Hailia is a food tech company that offers seafood processing technology and products. The company's core offering is its patent-pending technology that transforms fish processing sidestreams (frames, heads, fins) into ready-to-use food products with exceptional texture and mouthfeel. Hailia operates both as a product manufacturer (producing Pulled Rainbow Trout, Pikkukalanyhtö, Pikkukalasuikale, and salmon products) and as a technology licensor enabling fish processors globally to adopt its technology. The company also provides contract manufacturing services from its Karkkila facility. Products include pulled fish formats (chunks, bites, strips, patties) made from salmonoid and small pelagic fish sidestreams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pulled Rainbow Trout (Nyhtökirjolohi) A ready-to-use seafood product made from rainbow trout filleting sidestreams (frames, heads, fins) using Hailia's patent-pending technology. The product has a texture resembling cooked fish fillet and is sold under S Group's Kotimaista private label across 500+ stores in Finland for everyday cooking (pasta, sauces, fillings).
• Pikkukalanyhtö (Pulled Small Fish) A pulled fish product made from Baltic herring designed for food service and professional kitchens. First commercial product from Hailia, won the Seafood Innovations competition in the innovative seafood products category. Used as a meat or fish replacement in casseroles, pasta, soups, and sauces.
• Pikkukalasuikale (Small Fish Strips) A strip-format fish product made from Baltic herring for food service applications. Suitable for various recipes including casseroles, pasta, soups, and sauces as a meat or fish replacement. Carbon footprint 1.66 kgCO2e/kg, below the 3.2 threshold for best category for fish products.
• Salmon Sidestream Products Salmon products made from Norwegian salmon sidestreams in partnership with Hätälä. Products target the food service industry and are distributed to restaurants and institutional kitchens in Finland and internationally through Hätälä's food service network.
• Technology Licensing Patent-pending seafood processing technology licensed to fish processing companies internationally. Licensees can upcycle low-value filleting sidestreams (frames, heads, fins) into high-value seafood products such as chunks, bites, strips, and patties. First licensing agreement signed with Kalavapriikki in December 2024 for implementation at their Kuopio facility by early 2026. Payback time for licensees measured in months. Active negotiations with processors in Indonesia, Canada, and Australia.
• Contract Manufacturing Hailia operates as a contract manufacturer at its Karkkila, Finland facility for fish processors who supply sidestreams. Industrial-scale production capabilities for partners with products sold under partner brands (e.g., S Group's Kotimaista private label) or Hailia's own brand. Facility fully refurbished in 2022 with patent-pending technology integrated into streamlined production process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 74% consumer acceptance of seafood sidestream food products in UK, Sweden, and Germany markets
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Consumer CompassminorOthers · 15 April 2026Market research firm commissioned by Hailia to survey more than 1,500 consumers in the UK, Sweden, and Germany about attitudes toward seafood sidestream food products. Survey conducted over 14-day period found 74% positive or neutral attitudes toward such products.
• Dana TechnologycoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2025Danish engineering company that developed and owns IP for novel seafood processing machinery. Hailia holds exclusive rights to use the technology in seafood applications. Partnership commits equipment production capability to Hailia's global licensing expansion. Vagn Hansen, CEO of Dana Technology stated: 'The seafood industry has a tremendous amount of sidestreams... Hailia has changed that completely.'
• HätäläcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2024Finnish fish processing company handling approximately 18 million kg of fish annually. Partnership to manufacture salmon sidestream products for food service industry across Finland and international markets (Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, UK). Products distributed through Hätälä's established food service network.
• KalavapriikkicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2024Fish farmer and food producer providing rainbow trout sidestreams for Hailia's first commercial product (pulled rainbow trout). Kalavapriikki handles distribution and the product is sold under S Group's Kotimaista private label across 500+ stores. In December 2024, Kalavapriikki signed Hailia's first-ever licensing agreement to implement the technology at their Kuopio production facility by early 2026, aiming to double production to 4,000 tonnes in 2025.
• S GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 September 2024Finland's largest retail cooperative with 48% market share of Finnish retail, also operating in Estonia. Distributes Hailia's pulled rainbow trout product under the Kotimaista private label across over 500 stores including Prisma, S-market, Sale, and Alepa locations. S Group provides major retail distribution reach for consumer products.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hailia Oy