Harvest of the Sea

What Harvest of the Sea does

Harvest of the Sea is a Los Angeles-based wholesale seafood processor and distributor founded in 1961 by Bill Shinbane as The Fisherman's Outlet and later operated as Ore-Cal Corporation before rebranding to its current name in 2020. The company is privately held and family-controlled, with Mark Shinbane serving as President and CEO, and operates with a headcount in the 251-500 range from its headquarters at 1308 Factory Place. Its core products are individually quick-frozen (IQF) premium seafood — including Branzino (Aegean Sea, BAP 4/ASC certified), Seamami and Harvest of the Sea shrimp, Loligo calamari, tempura shrimp, and a proprietary Seafood Medley blending shrimp, calamari, scallops, and PEI mussels. Processing capabilities span hand-selection, peeling, deveining, cleaning, breading, battering, and portioning, with reduced-moisture IQF processing that guarantees true sizing and accurate net weights, and full source-to-plate traceability audited in-house and by third parties.

The company generates revenue almost entirely through B2B wholesale of frozen seafood under quote-based, multi-year contracts, sold in foodservice packs, retail packs, and custom packaging under the Harvest of the Sea brand and via private label. Its go-to-market combines a culinary-driven sales team (chefs and seafood professionals delivering menu co-development and kitchen-by-kitchen presentations) with multi-tier channel distribution — national and regional seafood distributors (e.g., Northern Haserot, CA Curtze, J.F.S. Curtze), direct foodservice accounts (e.g., Snappers Fish & Chicken, Wings on Fire, Hook Fish and Chicken, Lemon Pepper), meal-kit manufacturers via the Meal Kit Ready program, and direct retail at Costco Canada and through the Fisherman's Outlet restaurant and market in Los Angeles. The 5-Point Seafood Support Program packages culinary solutions, collaborative innovation, quality transparency, industry intelligence, and digital tools into the customer offering, while marketing is anchored in an extensive recipe blog, the 'What's On Deck' editorial blog, and trade-show engagement.

Name

Harvest of the Sea

Legal name

Harvest of the Sea

Website

https://harvestsea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Harvest of the Sea is a Los Angeles-based wholesale processor and distributor of premium IQF seafood (shrimp, branzino, calamari, seafood medley), serving retail and wholesale distributors, foodservice operators, meal kit manufacturers, and select retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Frozen Seafood Processing and Distribution

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Value-Added Seafood Packaging (MAP/Vacuum, Portion Packs, Private Label) (AFANADAM), Shellfish Value-Added Products (Shucked Oysters, Mussels, Clams; Cooked/Marinated) (AFANALAK), Ready-to-Eat Seafood (Cooked Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Surimi) (AFANALAC)

Keywords

• Frozen seafood wholesale
• Premium seafood supplier
• IQF seafood processing
• Seafood distribution services
• Meal kit seafood solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Premium Seafood Product Sales: Harvest of the Sea generates revenue primarily through the sale of premium frozen seafood products, including shrimp (Seamami, Harvest of the Sea Shrimp), branzino, calamari, tempura shrimp, and seafood medley. Products are sold in foodservice packs, retail packs, and custom packaging to retail distributors, wholesale distributors, foodservice operators, and meal kit companies. The company also sells under private label partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Harvest of the Sea is a wholesale distributor and processor of premium individually quick-frozen (IQF) seafood products, including shrimp (Seamami and Harvest of the Sea Shrimp), branzino, calamari, tempura shrimp, and a proprietary seafood medley. The company sells primarily in B2B channels through national and regional seafood distributors, food service operators, and meal kit manufacturers, with customized packaging, portion-controlled servings, and culinary-driven sales support. It also operates the Fisherman's Outlet restaurant and seafood market in Los Angeles and has limited direct retail availability at Costco Canada.

Product overview

Harvest of the Sea is a national leader in premium seafood products offering a diversified portfolio of frozen and fresh seafood items. The product lineup includes Branzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass), multiple shrimp varieties (Harvest of the Sea Shrimp and Seamami Shrimp), Raw Calamari, Tempura Shrimp, and a pre-blended Seafood Medley. Products are available in various formats (IQF, raw, cooked, tail on/off) and are backed by culinary support services including the 5-Point Seafood Support Program and Meal Kit Ready solutions. The company emphasizes quality, transparency, and sustainability with BAP and ASC certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branzino Premium Mediterranean Sea Bass (branzino) sustainably farm-raised in the Aegean Sea, available as IQF fillets and cowboy cut. BAP 4 and ASC certified with no additives. Targeted at retail distributors, wholesale distributors, food service operators, and meal kit companies.
• Harvest of the Sea Shrimp Premium shrimp selected for rich flavor and firm texture, peeled, cleaned, cooked and IQF within hours. Fully traceable from farm to plate with true weights and sizes, sold in foodservice packs (5/2 lb) and retail packs. Targeted at retail distributors, wholesale distributors, food service operators, and meal kit companies.
• Seamami Shrimp Shrimp selected for rich flavor and firm texture, harvested, peeled and cleaned, then individually quick-frozen within hours without added phosphates. Naturally high in protein with no carbohydrates or fat. Targeted at retail distributors, wholesale distributors, food service operators, and meal kit companies.
• Raw Calamari Premium hand-selected Loligo squid, wild-caught and all natural. Available in Tube & Tentacle, Tube Only, Ring & Tentacle, or Ring Only formats. 100% net drained weight with true sizing and accurate counts. Sold in 6/2.5 lb blocks. Targeted at retail distributors, wholesale distributors, food service operators, and meal kit companies.
• Tempura Shrimp All-natural shrimp with light tempura batter and pre-fried finish. IQF at 13/15 count per pound with a 51% shrimp to 49% batter ratio. BAP-certified with quick cook times. Targeted at retail distributors, wholesale distributors, food service operators, and meal kit companies.
• Seafood Medley Proprietary blend of Asian shrimp, Indian wild-caught calamari, Argentine scallops, and Canadian Prince Edward Island Blue mussels. IQF and designed for quick cooking in 3-5 minutes from frozen. Available at select Costco Canada locations and through retail and food service distributors.
• Meal Kit Ready Solutions Customized seafood solutions delivered directly to meal kit manufacturers, offering flexible packaging, full-service culinary support, and chef-inspired recipes designed for home cooks. Targeted at meal kit companies seeking variety, healthy choices, easy prep, consistent portion sizes, and on-time delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 5-Point Seafood Support Program enables customers to optimize operational efficiency and stay ahead of industry trends.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Northern HaserotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorthern Haserot is a regional food service distributor based in Cleveland, Ohio, that distributes Harvest of the Sea's premium seafood products including the Gold Coast Shrimp program. The partnership has been highly successful, with the Gold Coast Shrimp program tripling sales since inception. Northern Haserot cited Harvest of the Sea for unmatched quality, uninterrupted availability, educational training, and kitchen-by-kitchen presentations to foodservice operators. The PERFECTION brand 'Just' shrimp relaunch was announced through this partnership.
• CA CurtzecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCA Curtze, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, distributes Harvest of the Sea's Gold Coast Shrimp program alongside Northern Haserot. Curtze is part of the Gold Coast Shrimp distribution network that serves foodservice operators across the northeastern United States.
• J.F.S. CurtzecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJ.F.S. Curtze, based in Rochester, New York, distributes Harvest of the Sea's Gold Coast Shrimp program within the Gold Coast Shrimp distribution network, serving foodservice operators in the northeastern United States alongside Northern Haserot and CA Curtze.
• Snappers Fish & ChickencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnappers Fish & Chicken, a Miami-based multi-unit quick-serve restaurant chain, partnered with Harvest of the Sea to develop and launch premium breaded calamari menu items. Harvest of the Sea's Southeast Regional Chef Chris Perna worked directly with Snappers' five locations to develop two menu combos, determine portion sizes and price points, and even design and fabricate drive-through signage. The partnership resulted in unique menu differentiation and increased sales. The successful program was subsequently expanded to Wings on Fire, Hook Fish and Chicken & Lemon Pepper restaurants.
• CostcominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHarvest of the Sea's Seafood Medley is available at select Costco Canada locations. Costco is noted as a leader in sustainable aquaculture, having co-founded the Seafood Task Force with Pokphand Foods, an international group of seafood processors, buyers, retailers, and related entities working to ensure supply chain traceability and approved standards.
• Wings on Fire, Hook Fish and Chicken & Lemon PepperminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFollowing the successful Snappers Fish & Chicken pilot program, these Miami-based restaurant chains received Harvest of the Sea's breaded calamari menu combos for their locations, expanding the reach of the company's products in the Miami food service market.
• Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)coreTechnology or IntegrationHarvest of the Sea's branzino is ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) certified. ASC is an independent international organization overseeing certification and labelling programs for responsible aquaculture, verifying that seafood is responsibly raised without harm to the environment or community.
• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)coreTechnology or IntegrationHarvest of the Sea's products carry BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certification, specifically BAP 4-star certification covering the entire production chain from farm and feed mill through hatchery and processing plant. BAP addresses four key areas: animal health and welfare, environment, food safety, and social responsibility.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trident Seafoods: One of the largest vertically integrated seafood processors and distributors in North America, offering frozen and value-added seafood (shrimp, fish, shellfish) to retail and foodservice channels. Directly comparable as a premium IQF seafood supplier serving similar B2B customer segments.
• Pacific Seafood: Family-owned seafood processor, harvester, and distributor based on the US West Coast, with broad frozen and value-added seafood lines sold into retail, foodservice, and institutional channels. Comparable vertically integrated processor-distributor competing in overlapping categories (shrimp, finfish, shellfish).
• High Liner Foods: North American processor and marketer of value-added frozen seafood (shrimp, fish, shellfish) primarily under private label and branded programs to retail and foodservice. Highly comparable in product format (IQF, breaded, portioned) and B2B channel mix.
• Fortune Fish & Gourmet: US-based specialty seafood and gourmet foods distributor serving retail, restaurants, and foodservice with premium and value-added seafood. Comparable in mid-sized scale, premium positioning, and B2B foodservice focus.
• Inland Seafood: Specialty seafood processor and distributor based in Atlanta serving foodservice and retail customers with fresh and frozen, value-added seafood. Comparable as a mid-market premium seafood supplier with similar customer mix.
• Quirch Foods: Specialty foods distributor serving retail and foodservice with a strong portfolio of premium proteins including seafood. Comparable in channel mix and value-added positioning.
• Rubicon Resources (formerly Rubicon Food Products): Value-added frozen seafood and specialty foods supplier (shrimp, calamari, etc.) to retail and foodservice channels with private label capabilities. Closely comparable in processing focus and B2B channel mix.

Broad incumbents

• Chicken of the Sea: Major branded seafood (tuna, shrimp, salmon) marketer owned by Thai Union, with broad retail and foodservice distribution. Comparable product portfolio overlap but much larger scale and broader category presence.
• Sysco (Seafood Category): Largest US broadline foodservice distributor carrying an extensive seafood category. Competes with Harvest of the Sea for foodservice accounts and benchmark for distribution scale, though seafood is a sub-line within a much larger portfolio.

Regional players

• Ocean Beauty Seafoods: Pacific Northwest-based seafood processor and distributor serving retail, foodservice, and institutional customers with salmon, shellfish, and other premium species. Comparable product positioning but stronger regional focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/fishermansoutletseafood

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

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 Harvest of the Sea