Cooke
Cooke Inc. is a privately held Canadian integrated seafood company operating aquaculture (salmon, trout), seafood processing, and global distribution across North America, Europe, South America, and Oceania, serving retail, foodservice, and pet food buyers through owned farms and acquired brands such as Slade Gorton, Morubel, and Copeinca.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBathurst, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cooke does
Cooke Inc. is a privately held Canadian integrated seafood company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick. With 10,000+ employees and operating geographies spanning Canada, the United States, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Peru, and Australia, Cooke generates revenue through three integrated activities: aquaculture production (primarily Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout), wild-caught seafood harvesting, and seafood processing and distribution to retail, foodservice, and pet food customers. The company controls a multi-brand portfolio including Cooke Aquaculture, Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd., Slade Gorton, Morubel, Copeinca, and the pending Avramar Seafood acquisition, with vertical integration spanning fishmeal and fish oil inputs (Omega Protein, Copeinca) through to downstream distribution.
Cooke's technology stack centers on AI-augmented salmon farming. Specific applications include AI feed optimization to improve feed conversion ratios and reduce waste, AI-driven biomass estimation for inventory and growth monitoring, AI parasite detection systems targeting sea lice, AI-based environmental monitoring for water quality and algae, and smart-farming cages equipped with sensors, robotics, and AI-driven systems deployed in offshore operations such as Kelly Cove Salmon's Liverpool Bay site. Video monitoring systems are also used at hatcheries for operational oversight.
The business model is B2B-driven: seafood is sold through direct sales from owned farms and processing facilities and through acquired distribution networks (Slade Gorton in North America, Morubel in Europe) on quote-based negotiation rather than published pricing. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales, channel partner distribution via acquired infrastructure, and direct-to-consumer reach via Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. Marketing is anchored in industry trade events, including Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Expo North America. Growth has been financed almost entirely through acquisition and operating cash flow, with the family-controlled company disclosing only a single $7 million grant from Canada's Ocean Supercluster in 2023 and no external venture or institutional funding rounds.
Cooke firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cooke
- Legal name
- Cooke Inc.
- Website
- https://cookeseafood.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Cooke Inc. is a privately held Canadian integrated seafood company operating aquaculture (salmon, trout), seafood processing, and global distribution across North America, Europe, South America, and Oceania, serving retail, foodservice, and pet food buyers through owned farms and acquired brands such as Slade Gorton, Morubel, and Copeinca.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cooke industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Seafood Aquaculture
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (1125), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (424460)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIABAF), Primary Seafood Processing (Heading/Gutting/Deheading; Icing) (AFANADAA), Meat, Poultry & Seafood Distribution (CRAOABAC)
Keywords
Where Cooke is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bathurst
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cooke business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Seafood Production and Distribution: Cooke generates revenue through aquaculture salmon farming, wild-caught seafood harvesting, and distribution of seafood products to retail and foodservice customers globally
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Cooke product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cooke operates as an integrated seafood company engaged in salmon aquaculture farming, wild-caught seafood harvesting, shrimp processing, and seafood distribution. The company controls the full value chain from catch quotas and aquaculture farms through processing infrastructure to retail and foodservice customers across North America and Europe. Its portfolio includes Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, shrimp, and other seafood products sold through owned subsidiaries including Kelly Cove Salmon, Slade Gorton, and Morubel.
Product overview
Cooke operates as an integrated seafood company with a multi-brand portfolio spanning aquaculture production, processing, and distribution. The core business centers on Cooke Aquaculture's salmon farming operations, supplemented by acquired brands including Slade Gorton (seafood distribution in North America), Morubel (shrimp processing in Europe), and Kelly Cove Salmon (subsidiary for salmon farm operations). The company is expanding through the acquisition of Avramar Seafood in Spain/Greece. Products include Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, shrimp, and diverse seafood products across retail, foodservice, and industrial channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cooke Aquaculture (Atlantic Salmon)
- Rainbow Trout Products
- Slade Gorton Seafood Distribution
- Morubel Shrimp Processing
- Kelly Cove Salmon Farm Operations
Companies that use Cooke
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cooke technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
Cooke partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Avramar Seafood SLcoreCooke acquired 100% of Spanish-based Avramar Seafood SL, which controls Greek subsidiaries. This acquisition influences decisions of Greek creditor banks regarding Avramar Greece, the largest fish farming company in Greece. The deal represents Cooke's expansion into the Mediterranean aquaculture market.
- Slade GortoncoreCooke Aquaculture entered a purchase agreement to acquire American seafood importer, manufacturer, and distributor Slade Gorton. The acquisition leverages Slade Gorton's long-standing sector expertise and extensive product range to strengthen Cooke's market presence in North America.
- Morubel N.V.coreCooke acquired Belgian shrimp processing company Morubel N.V. from Bencis Capital Partners. The acquisition includes Morubel's infrastructure, products, and employees, aiming to expand Cooke's presence in Europe through established shrimp processing capabilities.
- Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.coreKelly Cove Salmon Ltd. is a subsidiary of Cooke Aquaculture Inc. operating salmon farms in Nova Scotia, including expansion plans for Liverpool Bay salmon farm AQ#1205 with new smart-farming technology.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cooke competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mowi ASA: Mowi is the world's largest Atlantic salmon producer, headquartered in Norway with farming, processing, and sales operations globally. It is Cooke's most direct competitor in vertically integrated salmon aquaculture and is the benchmark for global salmon supply.
- Lerøy Seafood Group: Lerøy is a Norwegian seafood group with salmon farming, wild catch, processing, and distribution. It is a close analogue to Cooke's vertical structure across salmon, value-added processing, and downstream sales.
- SalMar ASA: SalMar is one of the largest Norwegian salmon farming companies with a strong focus on offshore and smolt technology. It competes directly with Cooke in Atlantic salmon farming and shares similar investments in offshore and smart-farming techniques.
- Bakkafrost P/F: Bakkafrost is a vertically integrated Faroese salmon farmer with its own processing, feed, and smolt operations. It mirrors Cooke's vertical integration model in salmon and is benchmarked alongside Mowi and SalMar for industry comparables.
- Cermaq Group AS: Cermaq (owned by Mitsubishi) farms Atlantic salmon and trout in Norway, Chile, and Canada, making it a direct geographic and product-line competitor to Cooke, particularly in BC and Chilean salmon markets.
Broad incumbents
- Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): CPF is one of the world's largest aquaculture and feed conglomerates, primarily in shrimp and warmwater species. It is comparable to Cooke in integrated farming-plus-feed but competes more in Asia and tropical species rather than cold-water salmon.
- Maruha Nichiro: Maruha Nichiro is one of Japan's largest seafood companies, with global salmon, surimi, and processed seafood operations. It operates as a broad incumbent in the same seafood category and competes for retail and foodservice seafood contracts.
- Thai Union Group: Thai Union is a global seafood processor and brand owner (Chicken of the Sea, King Oscar). It is comparable to Cooke in scale and downstream distribution via Slade Gorton-style channels but focuses on tuna and shelf-stable seafood.
Emerging players
- Stolt-Nielsen Limited: Stolt-Nielsen owns Stolt Sea Farm, one of the largest producers of turbot, sole, and kingfish. It overlaps with Cooke's Avramar Mediterranean ambitions (sea bass/bream) and shares the land-based plus sea-based aquaculture profile.
- AquaBounty Technologies: AquaBounty is a smaller, technology-focused aquaculture company pioneering land-based GM salmon. It overlaps with Cooke on salmon farming and shares the AI/biotech orientation but operates at much smaller scale and in a different production paradigm.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cooke social profiles
Digital presenceCooke compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Cooke financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cooke leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cooke subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Cooke funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cooke M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cooke
What does Cooke do?
Cooke operates as an integrated seafood company engaged in salmon aquaculture farming, wild-caught seafood harvesting, shrimp processing, and seafood distribution. The company controls the full value chain from catch quotas and aquaculture farms through processing infrastructure to retail and foodservice customers across North America and Europe. Its portfolio includes Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, shrimp, and other seafood products sold through owned subsidiaries including Kelly Cove Salmon, Slade Gorton, and Morubel.
Is Cooke a public or private company?
Cooke is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cooke founded?
Cooke was founded in 1985. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Cooke based?
Cooke is headquartered in Bathurst, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Cooke make money?
One revenue line is on record: seafood Production and Distribution.
Who are Cooke's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mowi ASA, Lerøy Seafood Group, SalMar ASA, Bakkafrost P/F and Cermaq Group AS. Broad incumbents are Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), Maruha Nichiro and Thai Union Group. Emerging players are Stolt-Nielsen Limited and AquaBounty Technologies.
Does Cooke have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cooke.
What industry is Cooke in?
Cooke's product category is Seafood Aquaculture. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANADAL, Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants), with a secondary code of AFAIABAF, Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 1125 and its SIC code is 2092.