What Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. does

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co., Inc. is a privately held Boston-based seafood distributor founded in 1982 that supplies fresh shellfish and seafood products — mussels, oysters, clams, scallops, crabs, snails, fresh fish, and lobster — primarily to foodservice operators, hospitality buyers, seafood wholesalers, and private label customers. The company sources from independent fishermen and aquafarm networks across Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Maine, and Chesapeake Bay, and has developed a portfolio of private label sub-brands (Cape Select, Icy Blue, Green Isle, Pure Island Blue, Black Ice, Maine Blue, Organic Choice, Momma Mia Oysters, Cupid's Choice Oysters) sold to retail and foodservice buyers.

Operations are centered on an FDA and HACCP approved facility at 8 Seafood Way (Docks 5-12) in Boston, with product shipped via a fleet of refrigerated trucks, multiple ground carriers, and air freight out of Logan International Airport enabling 7-day delivery. The core "technology" is a temperature-controlled physical supply chain rather than software; supplier plants must operate under FDA/HACCP standards or participate in Canadian Food Inspection Agency programs. No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or data platforms are disclosed.

The business model is a quote-based, one-time-sale distribution operation. Revenue is generated entirely through product sales with no disclosed pricing or subscription terms. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via a dedicated sales team ([email protected]), targeting foodservice/hospitality and wholesale buyers nationally with claimed global reach. The company employs 1-10 people and is led by President Paul Todesca and Vice President John Pezzone, with no disclosed external investors, parent company, M&A, or funding activity.

Name

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co.

Legal name

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co., Inc.

Website

https://capecodshell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. is a Boston-based, privately held seafood distributor founded in 1982 that supplies fresh mussels, oysters, clams, scallops, crabs, and lobster to foodservice operators, wholesalers, and private label buyers from a single FDA/HACCP approved facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Seafood and Shellfish Distribution

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (424460), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shellfish Processing (Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, Mollusks) (AFANADAC), Seafood Markets & Fishmongers (CRAHAHAC)

Keywords

• Fresh shellfish supply
• Seafood distribution
• Private label seafood
• Mussel and oyster wholesale
• Premium seafood sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

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, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Shellfish and Seafood Product Sales: The company generates revenue through the sale of fresh shellfish and seafood products including mussels, oysters, clams, snails, scallops, crabs, fresh fish, and lobster. Products are sourced from independent fishermen and aquafarm networks and distributed to customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. is a Boston-based distributor and supplier of ultra-fresh shellfish and seafood products, including mussels, oysters, hard and soft shell clams, snails, periwinkles, scallops, crabs, fresh fish, and lobster. The company sources from independent fishermen and aquafarm networks and operates a private label program featuring brands such as Cape Select, Icy Blue, Green Isle, Pure Island Blue, Black Ice, Maine Blue, and Organic Choice mussels, as well as Momma Mia and Cupid's Choice oysters. Products are distributed via a temperature-controlled FDA- and HACCP-approved facility, a refrigerated truck fleet, and air freight to ensure freshness.

Product overview

Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co. is a premier supplier of ultra-fresh shellfish and seafood, offering a broad portfolio spanning multiple product categories — mussels, oysters, hard and soft shell clams, snails, periwinkles, scallops, crabs, and fresh fish & lobster — sourced from independent fishermen and aquafarm networks. The company's product portfolio is organized around two main structures: a collection of private label sub-brands (Cape Select Shellfish, Cape Select Soft Shell Crabs, Icy Blue Mussels, Green Isle Mussels, Pure Island Blue Mussels, Black Ice Mussels, Maine Blue Mussels, Organic Choice Mussels, Momma Mia Oysters, and Cupid's Choice Oysters) alongside general product categories. Products are distributed through refrigerated trucking and air freight, with a focus on freshness and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cape Select Shellfish: Private label brand including wide assortment of shellfish such as hard shell clams and soft shell clams.
• Cape Select Soft Shell Crabs
• Icy Blue Mussels
• Green Isle Mussels
• Pure Island Blue Mussels
• Black Ice Mussels
• Maine Blue Mussels
• Organic Choice Mussels
• Momma Mia Oysters
• Cupid's Choice Oysters

Products and services

• Cape Select Shellfish
• Cape Select Soft Shell Crabs Private label soft shell crabs from Chesapeake Bay, harvested during the molted state so the full shell is edible, available seasonally May through October.
• Icy Blue Mussels Premium rope-grown Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) mussels, hand selected, tender, sweet, uniform in appearance, with high meat yield, available year round.
• Green Isle Mussels Mussels hand-farmed by local fishermen in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, inspired by Prince Edward Island aquaculture, visually fetching with flourishing meat content, available year round.
• Pure Island Blue Mussels Premium mussels harvested from the clean, clear waters of Prince Edward Island's beaches, producing a pure and natural taste, available year round.
• Black Ice Mussels Mussels harvested from Newfoundland, Canada, fed by nutrient-rich and crisp icy Arctic currents, sweet, succulent, plump, and visually appealing, available year round.
• Maine Blue Mussels Exclusive Cape Cod Shellfish label of mussels grown naturally in the icy Atlantic waters off Maine, a New England favorite often used in traditional clambakes, available year round.
• Organic Choice Mussels Organically certified mussels offered under the Cape Cod Shellfish Organic Choice private label brand.
• Momma Mia Oysters Oysters offered under the Momma Mia private label brand of Cape Cod Shellfish.
• Cupid's Choice Oysters Oysters offered under the Cupid's Choice private label brand of Cape Cod Shellfish.
• Fresh Fish and Lobster Fresh fish and lobster sourced from independent fishermen and aquafarm networks, distributed to foodservice and wholesale customers.
• Clams Hard shell clams and soft shell clams supplied as part of Cape Cod Shellfish's ultra-fresh shellfish offering.
• Scallops Scallops supplied as part of Cape Cod Shellfish's ultra-fresh shellfish and seafood portfolio.
• Crabs Crabs including soft shell crabs, supplied as part of Cape Cod Shellfish's ultra-fresh shellfish offering.
• Snails Snails and periwinkles supplied as part of Cape Cod Shellfish's ultra-fresh shellfish offering.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Independent FishermencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCape Cod Shellfish maintains strong relationships with independent fishermen as part of their supply network, enabling access to fresh catches and sustainable harvesting practices.
• Aquafarm NetworkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong relationships with various aquafarm networks provide the widest selection of fresh shellfish available on the world market.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency ProgramsminorOthersCompany requires supplier plants to operate in accordance with FDA and HACCP safety standards or participate in Canadian Food Inspection Agency Programs for quality assurance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Slade Gorton & Co. Boston seafood distributor serving retail, foodservice, and institutional customers with a wide assortment of fresh and frozen seafood including shellfish. Comparable in Boston-hub location, foodservice customer base, and diversified shellfish+finfish portfolio.
• Stavis Seafoods: Boston-based, family-owned seafood distributor with a multi-generational operating history, supplying fresh shellfish, finfish, and frozen items to restaurants and retailers across the Northeast. Direct competitor in the same geography with a similar privately held operating model.
• Raw Sea Foods: Boston-based seafood wholesaler and distributor serving chefs, restaurants, and home cooks across the Northeast. Highly comparable to Cape Cod Shellfish in geography, product mix (shellfish and finfish), customer base (foodservice), and brand-portfolio strategy.
• M.F. Foley Company: Boston-based specialty seafood distributor with deep foodservice and retail relationships across the Northeast. Similar privately held operating model, comparable customer base (restaurants and retailers), and overlapping shellfish/fish product lines.
• Northeast Seafood: New England-based fresh seafood supplier focused on shellfish and finfish delivered to restaurants and retail customers in the Northeast. Directly comparable in product category, regional focus, and customer profile.
• Marder Seafood: Rhode Island-based fresh seafood and shellfish distributor with strong ties to New England fishing and aquaculture, mirroring Cape Cod Shellfish's coastal sourcing model. Particularly comparable in shellfish-heavy product mix and Northeast foodservice focus.

Broad incumbents

• Fortune Fish & Gourmet: Midwestern specialty seafood and gourmet foods distributor serving retail and foodservice customers across multiple regions. Comparable in shellfish distribution and premium positioning, broader in product portfolio and geographic footprint.
• Inland Seafood: Larger, broader-line seafood distributor based in Atlanta serving foodservice and retail nationwide. Overlaps with Cape Cod Shellfish in shellfish sourcing and restaurant distribution but operates at substantially greater scale across more categories and geographies.
• Seattle Fish Company: Denver-based specialty seafood distributor with broad retail and foodservice reach. Shares comparable product categories (shellfish, finfish) and private-label/specialty-brand orientation but operates across a much larger national footprint.

Regional players

• P.E.I. Mussel King / Atlantic Aquaculture Co-ops: Prince Edward Island-based mussel farming and processing cooperatives that grow and pack the core raw product Cape Cod Shellfish distributes under its Icy Blue, Pure Island Blue, Green Isle, and Black Ice private labels. Comparable as shellfish suppliers in the value chain, typically serving export markets including the US.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CapeCodCafeTX

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cape Cod Shellfish & Seafood Co.