SAQUA

What SAQUA does

SAQUA (legal entity: Southern Aqua Seafoods Ltd) is a UK-registered, privately-held B2B importer and distributor of premium, sustainably-sourced frozen seafood, operating from its registered office in Hungerford, Berkshire and principal place of business in Marlborough, with additional sales offices in Germany (Bonn), Italy (Saronno), and France (Neuville-en-Ferrain). The company was founded in 2004 on two decades of sourcing expertise and curates a portfolio of eight flagship products — Yellowtail (Spencer Gulf Kingfish), Spiny Lobster, King Salmon (Ora King), Octopus, Black Cod (Sablefish), Patagonian Toothfish, Australian Prawns, and Abalone — alongside nine newer specialty items (Murray Cod, Barramundi, Salmon Roe, Sea Urchin, Mussels, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Akoya Pearl Oyster, Scallops, and Pipi).

All products are sourced exclusively from independently verified sustainable fisheries and aquaculture producers, with key supply partners including Cleanseas, Ora King Salmon, Yumbah (which applies liquid nitrogen freezing for abalone), Tristan Lobster, Brolos, Fremantle Octopus, SPC, Golden Eagle Black Cod, Cap Kersaint, and Glacier 51. Core preservation technology centres on cold-chain logistics, notably liquid nitrogen freezing (used by partner Yumbah for abalone), enabling restaurant-quality frozen product to be shipped across the European continent.

The business operates a sales-led, relationship-driven GTM targeting two customer segments: European fine dining restaurants and chefs, and European premium retailers. Products are sold via a quote-based 'Get a Quote' and 'Find out where to buy our fish' inquiry model with no public pricing, supported by a multilingual website (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish), active Instagram presence, and direct B2B outreach. Payment terms are 20 business days for frozen goods and 10 business days for fresh goods. The company claims distribution across thousands of European retail outlets and restaurants 'from Reykjavik to Rimini', and holds B Corp certification, signalling formalized sustainability and community-partnership commitments. Revenue is generated through one-time wholesale transactions with pricing negotiated per inquiry, and no funding rounds, acquisitions, or public-market activity are disclosed.

Name

SAQUA

Legal name

Southern Aqua Seafoods Ltd

Website

https://saquaseafood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAQUA is a UK-registered B2B importer and distributor of premium, independently-verified sustainable frozen seafood, supplying European fine dining restaurants and premier retailers across the continent from the UK, Germany, Italy, and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Frozen Seafood Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Frozen seafood import
• Sustainable seafood wholesale
• Premium seafood distribution
• B2B seafood supply
• Seafood import trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Frozen Seafood Wholesale Distribution: SAQUA imports premium frozen seafood from verified sustainable fisheries worldwide and sells to European restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators. Revenue is generated through product sales with payment terms of 20 business days for frozen goods and 10 business days for fresh/perishable goods. Quoted pricing varies by product, volume, and market conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAQUA imports premium frozen seafood from independently verified sustainable fisheries and aquaculture producers worldwide (including Spencer Gulf, Marlborough Sounds, Tristan da Cunha, Western Australia, Vancouver Island, and sub-Antarctic waters) and supplies these products through B2B wholesale channels to Europe's fine dining restaurants, chefs, and premium retailers. The portfolio spans eight flagship species (Yellowtail, Spiny Lobster, King Salmon, Octopus, Black Cod, Patagonian Toothfish, Australian Prawns, Abalone) plus a growing range of specialty new products (Murray Cod, Barramundi, Salmon Roe, Sea Urchin, Mussels, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Akoya Pearl Oyster, Scallops, Pipi).

Product overview

SAQUA is a B2B frozen seafood import company offering a curated portfolio of premium, sustainable seafood products. The portfolio consists of eight flagship products (Yellowtail, Spiny Lobster, King Salmon, Octopus, Black Cod, Patagonian Toothfish, Australian Prawns, and Abalone) and a selection of new/specialty products including Murray Cod, Barramundi, Salmon Roe, Sea Urchin, Mussels, Southern Bluefin Tuna, Akoya Pearl Oyster, Scallops, and Pipi. The company positions itself as a 'trusted authority' in sustainable seafood, working exclusively with independently-verified sustainable fisheries and aquaculture producers. Products are supplied to Europe's most renowned chefs and premier retailers across thousands of outlets from Reykjavik to Rimini.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yellowtail (Kingfish/Hiramasa/Hamachi/Ricciola) Premium white fish prized for raw dishes, identifiable by its bright red bloodline, delivering clean flavour and melt-in-mouth texture. The flagship variety is Ike-Jime standard Spencer Gulf Kingfish from South Australia supplied by Cleanseas, intended for premium European restaurants and retailers.
• Spiny Lobster (Jasus tristani) Sweet and delicate spiny lobster (Jasus species) sourced from the colder waters of Southern Hemisphere continents. Lobsters are humanely stunned and rapid-frozen on Tristan Island before being shipped by sea, or sourced from Brolos, the world's first MSC-certified spiny lobster fishery. Supplied to European chefs and retailers seeking larger spiny lobsters.
• King Salmon (Ora King) Premium King Salmon from Ora King Salmon in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, frequently called 'The Wagyu of the Sea', bred through a longstanding breeding program for superior oil content and texture. Supplemented by Regal Salmon as an alternate New Zealand supplier. Intended for European fine dining and premium retail.
• Octopus (MSC Certified) MSC-certified octopus from Fremantle Octopus in Western Australia, caught using Ike-Jime individual harvesting methods. The species is unique to Western Australia and naturally more tender with a higher yield for chefs. Supplied to European fine dining and retail.
• Black Cod (Sablefish/Gindara) Buttery, delicate fish known from the cult miso-marinated dish popularized by Nobu Matsuhisa. Available as MSC-certified wild Alaskan Black Cod from SPC or as Golden Eagle farmed aquaculture from Vancouver Island — the farmed variant surpasses wild Black Cod in oil content and is parasite-free. Supplied to European restaurants including the Nobu chain.
• Patagonian Toothfish (Chilean Seabass/Legine) Deep-water Antarctic species famed for its rich, snow-white flesh, supplied by Cap Kersaint from Reunion Island and Glacier 51 from sub-Antarctic waters, with stocks now returned to safe levels after 20 years of conservation efforts. Intended for European fine dining and premium retail.
• Australian Prawns Wild prawns from Australia's diverse waters, including Tigers and Bananas from tropical northern waters (Karumba, Skull Island) and Kings from Spencer Gulf and Shark Bay. All major Australian prawn fisheries have been well-managed, including prior to MSC certification. Supplied to European fine dining and retail.
• Abalone (Green-lipped) Premium green-lipped abalone typically prepared like scallops, exclusively sourced from Yumbah in Australia. Combines a pinnacle species with ideal ocean water conditions and cutting-edge liquid-nitrogen freezing technology for superior texture and quality. Intended for European restaurants and retailers.
• Murray Cod (AQUNA) Premium Australian freshwater fish from Aquna, a sustainable Murray Cod producer, featured as a new product in the SAQUA portfolio with a strong presence in European fine dining, including Michelin-starred establishments.
• Barramundi (Daintree) Premium Australian farmed barramundi from Daintree, offering a sustainable aquaculture product featured as a new addition to the SAQUA range.
• Salmon Roe Premium salmon roe sourced from Yarra Valley Caviar in Australia, complementing the salmon product line within the SAQUA range.
• Sea Urchin Sustainably sourced sea urchin from True South Seafood in New Zealand, offered as a specialty new product for European fine dining and premium retail.
• Mussels New Zealand green-lipped mussels from Kono, a Maori-owned seafood company focused on sustainable fishing practices and community partnerships, featured in SAQUA's new products range.
• Southern Bluefin Tuna Premium Southern Bluefin Tuna from Kin Seafood in Australia, offered as a new product in the SAQUA portfolio.
• Pipi (Cockles/Tellarina) Australian pipi cockles from Goolwa, sourced from sustainable Australian shellfish fisheries and offered as a new specialty product in the SAQUA range.
• New Products Range (Akoya Pearl Oyster, Scallops, Humpty Doo Barramundi and other specialty items) Aggregated specialty seafood offering featuring Akoya Pearl Oyster from New Zealand partner producers, premium Scallops, and Humpty Doo Barramundi from Australia, offered as additional new product lines within the SAQUA portfolio for European fine dining and premium retail.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CleanseascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleanseas is an Australian sustainable kingfish producer providing SAQUA with Ike-Jime standard Spencer Gulf Kingfish. Cleanseas' products are among SAQUA's flagship offerings, with the company sourcing from this verified sustainable fishery for European markets.
• Ora King SalmoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOra King Salmon, based in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, is SAQUA's key supplier of premium King Salmon. Known as the 'Wagyu of the Sea', Ora King is described as the undisputed premier salmon globally, bred through a longstanding breeding program for superior oil content and texture.
• YumbahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYumbah in Australia is SAQUA's sole recommended abalone supplier. Yumbah combines green-lipped abalone with ideal ocean water conditions and liquid nitrogen freezing technology to deliver premium abalone to European restaurants and retailers.
• Tristan Lobster (Tristan da Cunha)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAQUA sources Jasus tristani spiny lobster from Tristan da Cunha, the world's most remote inhabited island. Lobsters are humanely stunned, rapid-frozen on the island, and shipped by sea — avoiding animal cruelty and carbon footprint of airfreighting.
• Brolos LobstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrolos Lobster from Western Australia is the world's first MSC-certified spiny lobster fishery. SAQUA supplies this product to European chefs and retailers seeking larger spiny lobsters, complementing its Tristan da Cunha sourcing.
• Fremantle OctopuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFremantle Octopus from Western Australia supplies SAQUA with MSC-certified octopus caught using Ike-Jime individual harvesting methods. The species is unique to Western Australia and naturally more tender with a higher yield for chefs.
• SPC (Seafood Producers Cooperative, Sitka, Alaska)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPC in Sitka, Alaska supplies SAQUA with MSC-certified wild Black Cod (Sablefish). SPC has consistently been recognised for offering the best quality and consistency of any wild Black Cod worldwide, and sponsors the top European Fusion Chef award.
• Golden Eagle Black CodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGolden Eagle Black Cod is sustainably farmed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and supplied to SAQUA for distribution to European restaurants including the Nobu chain. The product surpasses wild Black Cod in oil content and is parasite-free.
• Cap Bourbon / Cap KersaintcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCap Kersaint, operating out of Reunion Island (French territory), is SAQUA's primary supplier of Patagonian Toothfish (Chilean Seabass) to the European market. The supplier is known for quality-focused fish handling and careful fishing practices.
• Glacier 51 ToothfishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlacier 51 Toothfish supplies SAQUA with Patagonian Toothfish (Chilean Seabass) from sub-Antarctic waters. The product is recognised for its rich, snow-white flesh and superior quality.
• Kono (New Zealand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKono in New Zealand supplies SAQUA with Mussels. Kono is a Maori-owned seafood company focused on sustainable fishing practices and is featured in SAQUA's new products range.
• Yarra Valley CaviarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYarra Valley Caviar in Australia supplies SAQUA with Salmon Roe, featured in SAQUA's new products range.
• Kin Seafood (New Zealand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKin Seafood in New Zealand supplies SAQUA with Southern Bluefin Tuna, featured in SAQUA's new products range.
• Humpty Doo BarramundiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumpty Doo Barramundi in Australia supplies SAQUA with Barramundi, featured in SAQUA's new products range.
• Spencer Gulf King PrawnscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpencer Gulf King Prawns is one of Australia's premium prawn fisheries supplying SAQUA's Australian Prawns flagship range. Prawns are sourced from the cold waters of Spencer Gulf and Shark Bay.
• Skull Island Tiger PrawnscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkull Island Tiger Prawns, operated by Austral Fisheries in Australia, supplies SAQUA's flagship Australian Prawns range. The fishery has been expertly managed well before MSC certification.
• Karumba Banana PrawnscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKarumba Banana Prawns, operated by Austral Fisheries in tropical northern Australia, supplies SAQUA's Australian Prawns range. The product is sourced from Australian waters with MSC-equivalent management standards.
• Regal Salmon (New Zealand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegal Salmon in New Zealand is an alternative supplier of premium King Salmon to SAQUA, complementing the Ora King range with another high-quality New Zealand King Salmon offering.
• True South SeafoodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue South Seafood in New Zealand supplies SAQUA with Sea Urchin, featured in the new products range. The company is committed to sustainable seafood practices.
• Daintree BarramundiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaintree Barramundi, produced by Infinity Blue in Australia, supplies SAQUA's new products range with premium farmed Barramundi.
• Goolwa PipiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoolwa Pipi (cockles) from South Australia supplies SAQUA's new products range. The product is sourced from sustainable Australian shellfish fisheries.
• Aquna Murray CodminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquna Murray Cod, produced in Australia, supplies SAQUA's new products range. Aquna's Murray Cod has been featured in European fine dining, including at Michelin-starred establishments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mowi: World's largest Atlantic salmon producer with multiple premium sub-brands (e.g. Hiddenfjord, Mowi Signature). Comparable to SAQUA on the King Salmon/Atlantic salmon axis and increasingly competitive on sustainability-credentialed SKUs.
• Clearwater Seafoods: Canada-based global premium seafood company (shellfish, lobster, scallops) with European distribution. A larger incumbent operating broadly in the same premium seafood category with overlapping species.
• Thai Union Group: One of the world's largest seafood companies with premium and value brands across shrimp, tuna and salmon. A broad incumbent that has been expanding its sustainability-credentialed lines, directly contesting SAQUA's premium niche.
• Pescanova: Spain-headquartered major seafood company with retail and foodservice presence across Iberia and Latin America. Operates in the same seafood import/wholesale space as SAQUA, though with a broader mass-market portfolio.
• Bakkafrost: Faroese-headquartered premium salmon producer with strong sustainability credentials and full vertical integration. Competitor on the premium salmon axis that SAQUA sells to European chefs and retailers.

Direct peers

• The Fish Society: UK premium fish and seafood supplier with a strong online/DTC channel and foodservice supply. Comparable premium positioning and curated species range, though more consumer-facing than SAQUA.
• M&J Seafood: UK premium seafood supplier to top restaurants and hotels, with an 'award-winning' chef-focused positioning similar to SAQUA's. Competes head-to-head for the same fine-dining and hotel customer accounts in the UK and parts of Europe.
• New England Seafood International: UK-headquartered seafood company serving retail and foodservice with a broad species portfolio including premium ranges. Operates a similar import-and-distribute model to SAQUA across European retailers and restaurants.
• Direct Seafoods: UK-based premium seafood supplier to foodservice and retail accounts, with overlapping species portfolio (salmon, shellfish, whitefish). Closest direct competitor in the UK premium B2B segment that SAQUA serves.

Emerging players

• Kvarøy Arctic: Norwegian premium sustainable salmon producer selling into North American and European fine-dining/retail. Closely comparable sustainability-led positioning to SAQUA's flagship King Salmon offering, though smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/saquaseafood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saquaseafood
• Instagraminstagram.com/saquaseafood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 SAQUA