Aquamar
Aquamar is a US food manufacturer founded in 1991 that produces surimi and ready-to-eat seafood across multiple brands (Seafarer, Marazul, Aqua Treasure), serving retail (Walmart, ShopRite, Aldi), Asian foodservice distributors, value-added processors, and Latin American markets via dual-coast manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersRancho Cucamonga, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aquamar does
Aquamar is a privately held US food manufacturer founded in 1991 that produces surimi and a growing portfolio of ready-to-eat seafood products. The company was established by a Japanese immigrant who first brought surimi to North America in 1981, and Aquamar pioneered the use of the term 'surimi' rather than 'imitation crab meat' in its labeling. Core manufacturing centers on deboned whitefish (primarily Alaska pollock and whiting) processed using proprietary food production technology into multiple formats — Chunk, Flake, Shred, Snack, and Stick — sold under sub-brands including Seafarer, Aqua Treasure, Aquamar Naturally, Classic Bay, Lucky Star, Marazul, and Dyna-Sea.
The company operates two SQF-certified, BRC AAA-rated manufacturing facilities — Rancho Cucamonga, California (West Coast headquarters) and Carteret, New Jersey (East Coast, operated as LM Foods, LLC d/b/a Aquamar) — supporting coast-to-coast distribution with redundant capacity. Aquamar's go-to-market spans three commercial motions: (1) branded retail through Walmart, ShopRite, Aldi, Sam's Club, and Hispanic grocers (El Super, Northgate Market); (2) foodservice supply through Asian distributors (Wismettac, Mutual Trading, True World Foods, JFC International) for sushi and Asian-cuisine operators; and (3) bulk ingredient supply to value-added processors (e.g., Seafood America). Beyond surimi, Aquamar has expanded into value-added ready-to-eat seafood (Pan-Seared Pacific Cod, Steamed Galician Mussels, Salmon Wellington, Crispy Scallop Bites, Creamy Seafood Medley).
Aquamar's geographic footprint extends across the US, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador. With 400+ employees, MSC and Alaska CSI sustainable sourcing certifications, and a claimed 20% retail velocity advantage over competitors, Aquamar operates as a mid-sized multi-channel seafood platform with established distribution, heritage brand positioning, and recent product and geographic diversification beyond its surimi core.
Aquamar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aquamar
- Legal name
- Aquamar, Inc.
- Website
- https://aquamarseafood.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aquamar is a US food manufacturer founded in 1991 that produces surimi and ready-to-eat seafood across multiple brands (Seafarer, Marazul, Aqua Treasure), serving retail (Walmart, ShopRite, Aldi), Asian foodservice distributors, value-added processors, and Latin American markets via dual-coast manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aquamar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Surimi and Convenience Seafood Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Surimi & Minced Fish Products (Imitation Crab, Fish Paste) (AFANADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Surimi-Based Value-Added Products (Imitation Crab, Formed Seafood) (AFANALAJ), Value-Added Seafood Packaging (MAP/Vacuum, Portion Packs, Private Label) (AFANADAM)
Keywords
Where Aquamar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rancho Cucamonga
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Aquamar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Retail Product Sales: Sale of surimi and convenience seafood products directly to consumers through retail stores (Walmart, ShopRite, Aldi, and regional Hispanic grocery chains). Products include Surimi Chunk, Flake, Shred, Snack, Stick, and Crab-Flavored products under Seafarer brand.
- Trade/ foodservice Product Sales: Sale of surimi ingredients and finished seafood products to foodservice operators, Asian foodservice distributors, and value-added processors. Products available in bulk format for restaurants, institutional customers, deli chains, and salad makers.
- Value-Added Processor Ingredients: Supply of surimi base ingredients to value-added processors for use in crab cakes, salads, spreads, and other processed seafood products. Companies like Seafood America use Aquamar surimi for their manufacturing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-tier product offering with different brands for different market segments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aquamar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aquamar manufactures and sells surimi products made from wild-caught whitefish (pollock and whiting) in chunk, flake, shred, snack, and stick formats, along with value-added ready-to-eat seafood dishes (Pan-Seared Pacific Cod, Steamed Galician Mussels, Salmon Wellington, Crispy Scallop Bites, Creamy Seafood Medley) under its Aquamar, Seafarer, Marazul, Aqua Treasure, Aquamar Naturally, Classic Bay, Lucky Star, and Dyna-Sea brands. The company supplies both end consumers through major U.S., Canadian, and Latin American grocery retailers and trade customers through Asian foodservice distributors and value-added seafood processors, producing from SQF- and BRC-certified plants on both U.S. coasts.
Product overview
Aquamar is a leading producer of surimi and other convenient, ready-to-eat seafood products. The product portfolio consists of two main categories: (1) Core surimi products available in multiple formats (Chunk, Flake, Shred, Snack, Stick) made from wild-caught Alaska pollock and whiting; and (2) Value-added ready-to-eat seafood including Pan-Seared Pacific Cod in various sauces (Creamy Basil Pesto, Spiced Chile Lime, Lemon Butter), Steamed Galician Mussels (Tomato & Garlic, Albariño White Wine & Butter), Salmon Wellington, Crispy Scallop Bites, and Creamy Seafood Medley. The company operates multiple sub-brands including Seafarer (crab-flavored seafood), Aqua Treasure/Aqua Treasure Select (retail), Aquamar Naturally (natural line), Classic Bay, Lucky Star, Marazul (Hispanic market), and Dyna-Sea (Latin America), serving retail, foodservice, and value-added processor channels across U.S., Canadian, and Latin American markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Marazul: Surimi brand made especially for Hispanic consumers with bilingual packaging, easy to identify in Latino grocery retailers.
- Aqua Treasure
- Aqua Treasure Select
- Dyna-Sea
- Aquamar Naturally
- Classic Bay
- Lucky Star
- Seafarer
Products and services
- Surimi Chunk Chunk-style surimi made from wild-caught Alaska pollock, fully cooked and ready to eat, sold to home cooks via retail grocery channels.
- Surimi Flake Flake-style surimi made from wild-caught whitefish, fully cooked and versatile for multiple culinary applications, sold to home cooks via retail grocery.
- Surimi Shred Shred-style surimi used in California rolls and other applications requiring a fine shred format, sold to home cooks and foodservice trade customers.
- Surimi Snack Ready-to-eat surimi snack format sold to home cooks for convenient consumption.
- Surimi Stick Stick-format surimi traditionally sized and produced for sushi applications, sold to home cooks and foodservice operators.
- Pan-Seared Pacific Cod (Creamy Basil Pesto) Pre-prepared flaky Pacific Cod fillet pan-seared and smothered in a creamy basil pesto sauce, designed for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality seafood with little preparation.
- Pan-Seared Pacific Cod (Spiced Chile Lime) Pre-prepared flaky Pacific Cod fillet finished with a Latin-inspired citrus and spice blend, designed for home cooks seeking a ready-to-prepare meal.
- Pan-Seared Pacific Cod (Lemon Butter) Pre-prepared flaky Pacific Cod fillet finished with a bright, tangy lemon butter sauce with garlic, designed for home cooks seeking restaurant-quality seafood with minimal prep.
- Steamed Galician Mussels (Tomato & Garlic) Spanish-style steamed mussels served in a savory tomato and garlic broth, designed for home cooks seeking ready-to-eat seafood.
- Steamed Galician Mussels (Albariño White Wine & Butter) Spanish delicacy steamed mussels served in a buttery white wine sauce, designed for home cooks seeking ready-to-eat seafood.
- Salmon Wellington (Cheddar, Lemon & Spinach) Atlantic salmon in a savory spinach and cheese sauce wrapped in buttery puff pastry, designed for home cooks seeking ready-to-bake seafood.
- Crispy Scallop Bites Bite-sized Patagonian scallops in a crispy batter, ready to air fry or bake, designed for home cooks seeking quick seafood snacks.
- Creamy Seafood Medley in Tomato Broth Combination of tender mussels, succulent shrimp, and baby clams in a savory tomato broth, designed for home cooks seeking ready-to-eat seafood.
- Seafarer Crab-Flavored Seafood (Chunks, Flakes, Sticks) Seafarer-branded crab-flavored seafood in chunks, flakes, and sticks, sold to home cooks through major U.S. retail grocery chains.
- Aqua Treasure / Aqua Treasure Select Aqua Treasure is a high-quality and affordable surimi brand for U.S. and Latin American retail markets, with Aqua Treasure Select offering a premium tier.
- Aquamar Naturally Natural Surimi Flakes Natural surimi product line with clean-label positioning, including Natural Surimi Flakes, sold through trade and retail channels.
- Classic Bay Classic Bay is a surimi brand offered for foodservice and retail channels as part of Aquamar's trade product portfolio.
- Lucky Star Lucky Star is a surimi brand offered across various market channels as part of Aquamar's trade product portfolio.
- Marazul Marazul is a surimi brand made especially for Hispanic consumers with bilingual packaging, easy to identify in Latino grocery retailers.
- Dyna-Sea Dyna-Sea is a surimi seafood brand available across multiple Latin American markets through retail channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% higher sales velocity than competitors
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Aquamar
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Aquamar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Aquamar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- WismettaccoreWismettac is a key Asian foodservice distributor relying on Aquamar for exceptional taste, unmatched texture, and unparalleled versatility in surimi products.
- Mutual TradingcoreMutual Trading is a Japanese foodservice distributor partner for Aquamar products, distributing surimi to restaurants and foodservice operators.
- True World FoodscoreTrue World Foods is an Asian foodservice distributor partner offering Aquamar surimi products to their customer base.
- JFC International Inc.coreJFC International Inc. is a Japanese food company distributor partner for Aquamar products in the foodservice market.
- Seafood AmericacoreSeafood America chooses Aquamar for surimi supply due to the company's expertise, versatility, and responsiveness in meeting their manufacturing requirements for value-added seafood products.
- WalmartcoreWalmart is a major retail partner for Aquamar surimi and convenience seafood products in the United States retail market.
- ShopRitecoreShopRite is a key retail partner for Aquamar products, offering surimi and seafood products in the Northeastern United States.
- AldimajorAldi offers Aquamar products to value-conscious consumers through their retail stores across the United States.
- El SupercoreEl Super is a Hispanic grocery retailer partner offering Aquamar surimi brands (Marazul, Aqua Treasure) with bilingual packaging.
- Northgate MarketcoreNorthgate Market is a Hispanic grocery chain partner for Aquamar products, serving Latino communities in the U.S.
- Sam's ClubmajorSam's Club warehouse club in Mexico offers Aquamar surimi products to their members.
- Walmart MexicocoreWalmart Mexico offers Aquamar and Dyna-Sea surimi brands in their retail stores across Mexico.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aquamar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Trident Seafoods: Largest U.S. vertically integrated seafood company and a major producer of surimi and crab-flavored seafood products sold through retail and foodservice channels. Directly comparable on core surimi manufacturing, retail/foodservice GTM, and U.S. mass-market distribution.
- Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods: Major U.S. brand of crab-flavored surimi/seafood sticks and chunks owned by Thai Union; competes head-to-head with Aquamar's Seafarer and surimi sticks at Walmart, Club, and grocery. Closest direct retail surimi competitor with overlapping SKUs and channels.
- Trans-Ocean Products: U.S. importer and producer of surimi-based crab-flavored seafood sticks, flakes, and chunks; competes with Aquamar in retail surimi and foodservice. Closely aligned product formats and channel mix make it a direct peer.
Broad incumbents
- High Liner Foods: Leading North American value-added seafood processor with retail and foodservice branded seafood (including surimi-adjacent products) across the U.S. and Canada. Comparable as a broad value-added seafood incumbent with similar retail penetration and foodservice scale.
- Maruha Nichiro: Japan's largest seafood company and a global pioneer of surimi technology; competes in U.S. surimi, value-added seafood, and Asian foodservice. Comparable due to global surimi heritage, scale, and foodservice reach.
- Thai Union Group: Global seafood processor (parent of Chicken of the Sea) producing surimi, canned tuna, and value-added seafood for retail and foodservice worldwide. Relevant broad incumbent with overlapping U.S. retail surimi and foodservice portfolios.
- Nippon Suisan (Nissui): Major Japanese integrated seafood company with significant surimi, frozen, and value-added seafood operations globally. Comparable due to surimi manufacturing expertise, foodservice distribution, and international footprint.
- Pacific Seafood Group: Large U.S. vertically integrated seafood harvester and processor serving retail, foodservice, and value-added channels on the West Coast and beyond. Comparable on U.S. seafood processing scale and multi-channel distribution.
- Clearwater Seafoods: Canadian shellfish and seafood processor with branded retail and foodservice products across North America. Comparable as a North American seafood-focused branded operator selling into overlapping retail/foodservice channels.
Emerging players
- Blue Star Foods: U.S. seafood processor focused on crab, surimi-based, and value-added seafood for retail and foodservice with growing omnichannel distribution. Smaller-scale emerging peer competing in crab-flavored/surimi segments served by Aquamar.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aquamar social profiles
Digital presenceAquamar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aquamar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aquamar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aquamar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aquamar
What does Aquamar do?
Aquamar manufactures and sells surimi products made from wild-caught whitefish (pollock and whiting) in chunk, flake, shred, snack, and stick formats, along with value-added ready-to-eat seafood dishes (Pan-Seared Pacific Cod, Steamed Galician Mussels, Salmon Wellington, Crispy Scallop Bites, Creamy Seafood Medley) under its Aquamar, Seafarer, Marazul, Aqua Treasure, Aquamar Naturally, Classic Bay, Lucky Star, and Dyna-Sea brands. The company supplies both end consumers through major U.S., Canadian, and Latin American grocery retailers and trade customers through Asian foodservice distributors and value-added seafood processors, producing from SQF- and BRC-certified plants on both U.S. coasts.
Is Aquamar a public or private company?
Aquamar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Aquamar founded?
Aquamar was founded in 1991. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aquamar based?
Aquamar is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aquamar make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Consumer Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are trade/ foodservice Product Sales and value-Added Processor Ingredients.
Who are Aquamar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Trident Seafoods, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods and Trans-Ocean Products. Broad incumbents are High Liner Foods, Maruha Nichiro, Thai Union Group, Nippon Suisan (Nissui), Pacific Seafood Group and Clearwater Seafoods. Blue Star Foods is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aquamar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aquamar.
What industry is Aquamar in?
Aquamar's product category is Surimi and Convenience Seafood Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANADAG, Surimi & Minced Fish Products (Imitation Crab, Fish Paste), with a secondary code of AFANALAJ, Surimi-Based Value-Added Products (Imitation Crab, Formed Seafood). Its NAICS code is 311710 and its SIC code is 2092.