BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.

What BLUE STAR FOODS CORP. does

Blue Star Foods Corp. (d.b.a. John Keeler & Co), founded in 1999 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, is a publicly traded (Nasdaq: BSFC) sustainable seafood company that produces, sources, and sells premium crab meat and salmon under multiple brands including Blue Star, Oceanica, Pacifica, Little Cedar Falls, Crab 'N Go, and Fit Fuel. Its core production assets include the oldest continuously operating land-based salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) in North America (Little Cedar Falls, British Columbia, designed for 100 tonnes of Steelhead per year), wild-caught blue swimming crab sourced from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, and patented Eco-Fresh Pouch packaging technology that has eliminated over 866 tons of metal can packaging. The company also operates a QR-enabled batch-level traceability platform and holds multiple third-party sustainability certifications (Ocean Wise, MSC, ASC, GGN, BRC).

Blue Star's commercial model is built on three channels: retail grocery (Walmart, Costco, Restaurant Depot, Hy-Vee, and other regional chains), foodservice/hospitality (restaurants, hotels, chefs such as James Beard winners Michelle Bernstein and Michael Schwartz), and — most recently — a national distribution partnership with KeHE Distributors (announced August 2025) that reaches 18 distribution centers and over 31,000 retail and online outlets. Customer segments span health-conscious retail consumers, sustainability-minded buyers, fitness-focused active professionals (Fit Fuel), and enterprise foodservice accounts. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time product sales, with Q3 2025 reporting a 78% year-over-year revenue increase and a record-high gross margin, and the company's most recent capital event being a $5 million post-IPO public offering in September 2023 facilitated by H.C. Wainwright & Co.

Name

BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.

Legal name

John Keeler & Co D.B.A Blue Star Foods

Website

https://bluestarfoods.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Blue Star Foods Corp. is a publicly traded Miami-based sustainable seafood company that produces and sells premium crab meat and land-raised salmon under multiple brands to retail, foodservice, and now national distributor KeHE networks in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Seafood

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Shellfish Value-Added Products (Shucked Oysters, Mussels, Clams; Cooked/Marinated) (AFANALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prepared Meat & Seafood Entrées with Sides (Complete Meals) (AFANAFAI), Frozen Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAC)

Keywords

• Premium crab meat
• Sustainable seafood
• Land-based salmon
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Aquaculture products

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seafood Product Sales: Blue Star Foods generates revenue through the sale of premium seafood products including crab meat (under Blue Star, Oceanica, and Pacifica brands) and land-grown sustainable salmon (Little Cedar Falls brand). Products are sold through retail stores and foodservice channels.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blue Star Foods Corp. produces and sells premium, sustainably sourced seafood products, including wild-caught blue swimming crab meat (sold under Blue Star, Oceanica, and Pacifica brands) and land-grown sustainable Steelhead salmon under the Little Cedar Falls brand. The company also offers portable ready-to-eat products such as Crab 'N Go and macro-balanced Fit Fuel meals featuring QR-enabled traceability. Products are distributed through major US retailers and a foodservice channel.

Product overview

Blue Star Foods Corp. (d.b.a. John Keeler & Co), a Miami-based sustainable seafood company, operates a multi-brand portfolio of premium crab meat and sustainable salmon products. The core offerings include Blue Star Premium Crab Meat (wild-caught blue swimming crab from Indonesia and Philippines), Little Cedar Falls sustainable Steelhead salmon (land-raised in British Columbia), and Oceanica/Pacifica regional crab brands. The company also offers Crab 'N Go portable snacks, Fit Fuel ready-made meals with QR-enabled traceability, and proprietary Eco-Fresh foil pouch technology. Products are distributed through major US retailers including Walmart, Costco, Hy-Vee, and Restaurant Depot.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Cedar Falls: Premium land grown, sustainable Steelhead salmon raised in British Columbia, Canada. Operates the oldest continuously operating recirculating aquaculture system raising salmon from egg to plate in North America. A member of Ocean Wise.
• Blue Star
• Oceanica
• Pacifica
• Crab 'N Go
• Fit Fuel

Products and services

• Blue Star Premium Crab Meat Premium wild-caught, ready-to-eat blue swimming crab meat in multiple grades (Imperial, Jumbo Lump, Super Lump, Regular Lump, Special Lump, Claw Meat), sold in cans and patented Eco-Fresh foil pouches. Sourced from Indonesia and Philippines.
• Little Cedar Falls Sustainable Salmon Premium land-grown sustainable Steelhead salmon raised in British Columbia, Canada using recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) technology. Operated by the oldest continuously operating land-based salmon RAS in North America. Member of Ocean Wise.
• Crab 'N Go Portable 3-ounce premium crab meat snack packaged in patented Eco-Fresh Pouch technology, designed for on-the-go consumers seeking healthy protein options.
• Fit Fuel Meals Ready-made macro-balanced meals using ethically sourced seafood, with QR-enabled batch-level sourcing transparency. Varieties include Tomato Basil Chicken, Miso Glazed Salmon, and Garlic Soy Beef. Targets fitness-conscious and active professionals.
• Oceanica Crab Oceanic Red Swimming Crab brand sourced from Vietnam, available in Jumbo Lump, Super Lump, and Backfin Lump varieties. Sold through retail and foodservice channels.
• Pacifica Crab Pacifica Red Swimming Crab brand sourced from China, available in Colossal, Jumbo, Super Lump, Lump, and Special varieties. Sold through retail and foodservice channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 866+ tons of metal can packaging saved through Eco-Fresh Pouch technology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KeHE DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 August 2025Strategic national distribution partnership for Blue Star Foods' flagship crab meat products. KeHE provides access to 18 distribution centers and over 31,000 retail and online outlets across the United States. Includes promotional incentives such as 50% Manufacturers Charge Back for retailers and Buy-One-Get-One offers for consumers.
• Wilderness MarketcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Global conservation finance impact firm partnered with Blue Star Foods to form the first blue swimming crab harvester cooperative in the east of Lampung province, Indonesia. Focused on creating equitable crab fishery with long-term economic benefits.
• Blue Star NusantaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Joint venture with Blue Star Foods to form the first blue swimming crab harvester cooperative in Indonesia, supporting programs to improve oceans and small fishing communities.
• Ocean WiseminorOthersOcean Wise is a conservation program that confirms the sustainable practices of Blue Star Foods' Little Cedar Falls land-based salmon operation. Membership indicates sustainable aquaculture practices.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood WatchminorOthersListed as a sustainability partner on Blue Star Foods website, indicating alignment with Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable seafood recommendations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Phillips Foods (Phillips Seafood): Phillips Foods is a Maryland-based crab and seafood specialist offering premium crab meat, crab cakes, and frozen seafood foodservice/retail products. Directly comparable to Blue Star as a crab-meat-forward brand with retail and foodservice channels.
• Ocean Garden Products: Ocean Garden Products is a leading importer and distributor of Mexican shrimp and shellfish, selling packaged, value-added seafood into U.S. retail and foodservice. Comparable as a North-American-facing value-added seafood packer with retail/foodservice dual channels.
• Atlantic Sapphire ASA: Atlantic Sapphire operates a large-scale land-based (RAS) Atlantic salmon production facility in Florida. Directly comparable to Blue Star's Little Cedar Falls RAS operation as a technology and business model peer in land-based salmon.
• Handy Seafood: Handy Seafood is a U.S. crab meat processor with retail and foodservice presence, including branded pasteurized crab. Closely comparable as a crab-meat processor/distributor targeting similar retail and food service customers as Blue Star.

Broad incumbents

• Trident Seafoods: Trident Seafoods is one of the largest vertically-integrated seafood companies in North America, with frozen, canned, and packaged seafood across retail and foodservice. Overlaps Blue Star on packaged retail seafood but at vastly broader scale and category breadth.
• Thai Union Group: Thai Union is a global seafood conglomerate whose portfolio includes Chicken of the Sea, Chicken of the Sea Frozen, and Genova. It overlaps Blue Star on packaged shelf-stable seafood distributed into U.S. retail and foodservice channels.
• High Liner Foods: High Liner Foods is a North-American frozen seafood leader selling branded and private-label seafood to retail and foodservice. Comparable business model to Blue Star's packaged seafood focus, but at significantly larger scale.
• Clearwater Seafoods: Clearwater Seafoods is a Canadian vertically-integrated shellfish and seafood harvester/marketer selling clams, scallops, lobsters and crab globally. Broad incumbent with overlapping crab/shellfish retail offerings.

Emerging players

• AquaBounty Technologies: AquaBounty is a land-based aquaculture company focused on genetically-improved salmon. Comparable to Little Cedar Falls as an emerging land-based salmon producer, though narrower in commercial deployment than Blue Star.
• Imperial Treasure / Premium Brands (e.g., Premier Food Holdings): Specialty prepared-meal and frozen seafood/entrée brands sold through retail and DTC channels. Comparable as adjacent format plays targeting health-conscious consumers and overlapping with Fit Fuel meals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BlueStarFoodsCo
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlueStarFoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bluestarfoods

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

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 BLUE STAR FOODS CORP.