Rimfrost

What Rimfrost does

Rimfrost is a Norwegian vertically integrated biotechnology company that produces and commercializes krill-derived ingredients through a patented enzymatic hydrolysis process applied offshore immediately after harvest in Antarctic waters. Operating under Rimfrost Holding AS with subsidiaries across Norway, New Zealand, the United States, and a port operation in Uruguay, the company controls the full value chain from two CCAMLR-licensed krill fishing concessions (one operational via Rimfrost Antarctic AS, one optional via Rimfrost Antarctic II AS) through to finished ingredients. Manufacturing assets include a NOK 1 billion-plus new-build krill fishing vessel under construction (Kongsberg design, Tersan-built hull, Westcon completion) designed to be the world's greenest and most modern krill vessel, plus contract production capacity at Rimfrost New Zealand LTD.

The product portfolio serves three B2B customer segments via direct sales: human nutrition (Rimfrost Krill Oil and RIMFROST SUBLIME 60PL, a 60%-phospholipid variant with EU Novel Food approval), pet nutrition (krill paste, krill powder, krill protein powder, and pet-specific krill oil), and aquaculture feed (Rimfrost Krill Protein Hydrolysate produced via the patented enzymatic hydrolysis method). Differentiation rests on offshore processing that preserves EPA/DHA phospholipids, astaxanthin, choline, and proteins while using approximately 30% less krill than conventional extraction, delivering 2–3x more astaxanthin than competing krill oils and supporting claims validated in seven published peer-reviewed studies covering bioavailability, atherosclerosis, and glucose response. The company has built a regulatory footprint spanning EU, Brazil, China, and USA approvals, holds Marine Stewardship Council and Friend of the Sea certifications, and is a founding member of the Association of Responsible Krill harvesting companies (ARK).

Rimfrost generates revenue through direct B2B sales of specialty krill ingredients to manufacturers and brands in human dietary supplements, pet food, and aquaculture feed. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and customers contact the company directly by product line. Go-to-market is sales-led, supported by participation in industry trade shows (Vitafoods Geneva, Supply Side West Las Vegas), peer-reviewed publications and whitepapers, and a corporate social presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. The founder-controlled ownership, approximately 25-employee headcount (2023), and NOK 1 billion-plus capital investment in the new vessel underscore a capital-intensive, vertically integrated specialty ingredient business model with global reach anchored in the Norwegian maritime cluster around Ålesund and Fosnavåg.

Name

Rimfrost

Legal name

Rimfrost AS

Website

https://rimfrostkrill.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rimfrost is a Norwegian vertically integrated biotech company that produces patented enzymatic hydrolysis-processed Antarctic krill ingredients (oils, powders, hydrolysates) for B2B customers in human dietary supplements, pet nutrition, and aquaculture feed markets worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Ingredients (Krill-derived Omega-3 and Protein Ingredients)

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquaculture Feed & Nutrition (farm-level feed programs) (AFAEAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Functional & Health Aquaculture Feed (Immunity, Disease Mitigation) (AFADADAI)

Keywords

• Krill oil ingredients
• Marine omega-3 production
• Aquaculture feed additives
• Pet nutrition ingredients
• Enzymatic hydrolysis processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Ålesund

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B krill ingredient sales: Rimfrost operates as a B2B supplier of krill-derived ingredients and finished products to manufacturers in human nutrition, pet nutrition, and aquaculture sectors. Revenue is generated through the sale of krill oil, krill powder, krill paste, krill protein hydrolysate, and krill protein powder products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rimfrost harvests Antarctic krill and manufactures a portfolio of krill-derived ingredients — including krill oil, krill powder, krill paste, krill protein powder, and krill protein hydrolysate — using a patented enzymatic hydrolysis process applied offshore immediately after catch. These ingredients are sold to business customers in the human nutrition (nutraceuticals), pet nutrition, and aquaculture feed sectors. A differentiated high-phospholipid variant, RIMFROST SUBLIME 60PL, has been developed for the European market.

Product overview

Rimfrost is a Norwegian vertically integrated biotechnology company that produces and commercializes a portfolio of sustainable krill-derived ingredients across three market segments: human nutrition, pet nutrition, and aquaculture. The product portfolio consists of: (1) Rimfrost Krill Oil (human and pet variants) — a 100% pure Antarctic krill oil rich in EPA/DHA omega-3s bound to phospholipids, astaxanthin, and choline, processed using a patented enzymatic hydrolysis extraction technology; (2) Rimfrost Krill Paste — a high-fat, nutrient-dense ingredient for pet nutrition; (3) Rimfrost Krill Powder — a finely milled, human-grade powder for pet applications; (4) Rimfrost Krill Protein Powder — a highly bioavailable marine protein for pet nutrition; and (5) Rimfrost Krill Protein Hydrolysate — an aquaculture feed additive produced via onboard enzymatic hydrolysis that enhances feed palatability and growth performance. The company controls the entire value chain from Antarctic krill harvesting through to finished product, and all products are supported by published peer-reviewed studies. Rimfrost also commercialized the specialized high-phospholipid variant RIMFROST SUBLIME 60PL (60% phospholipids) as a distinct sub-brand for the EU nutraceutical market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rimfrost Krill Oil: Premium pure krill oil for human nutrition; rich source of marine omega-3s (DHA/EPA) bound to phospholipids with high astaxanthin content.
• Rimfrost Krill Powder
• Rimfrost Krill Paste
• Rimfrost Krill Protein Hydrolysate
• Rimfrost Krill Protein Powder
• Rimfrost Krill Oil (for Pets)
• Rimfrost Sublime 60PL
• Rimfrost Pristine Krill Powder

Products and services

• Rimfrost Krill Oil (Human) 100% pure krill oil produced via patented enzymatic hydrolysis from sustainably harvested Antarctic krill, delivering EPA and DHA omega-3s bound to phospholipids for efficient cellular uptake, plus naturally high astaxanthin and choline. Targeted at manufacturers of human dietary supplements and nutraceuticals.
• Rimfrost Krill Oil (Pet) Krill oil formulated for pet nutrition applications, rich in phospholipid omega-3s EPA and DHA, astaxanthin, and choline, supporting joint, brain, skin/coat, immune, and heart health in cats and dogs.
• Rimfrost Krill Paste High-fat pet nutrition ingredient with phospholipid omega-3s EPA/DHA, astaxanthin, choline, and protein. High palatability from fresh shellfish flavor, used in pet food to support brain, heart, joint, and coat health.
• Rimfrost Krill Powder Free-flowing, finely milled, human-grade krill ingredient rich in marine proteins, phospholipid omega-3s EPA/DHA, astaxanthin, and choline, well accepted by dogs and cats as a functional pet nutrition ingredient.
• Rimfrost Krill Protein Powder Pet nutrition protein ingredient produced via enzymatic hydrolysis with high digestibility and essential amino acids (Lysine, Threonine, Methionine, Arginine), suited for puppies and kittens.
• Rimfrost Krill Protein Hydrolysate Aquaculture feed ingredient produced via patented enzymatic hydrolysis onboard the fishing vessel immediately after capture; naturally low in fluoride and chitin and rich in appetite-stimulating peptides, amino acids, nucleotides, and growth factors. Increases feed intake, growth rates, and survival while reducing fishmeal dependency.
• RIMFROST SUBLIME 60PL High-phospholipid (60%) krill oil extract developed as an innovation in krill omega-3 products; the first krill oil product at this phospholipid concentration approved for the European market under the EU Novel Food framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% less krill needed to produce the same amount of krill oil compared to conventional extraction
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MøreforskningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRimfrost and Møreforskning (both in Ålesund, Norway) collaborate in a 13 million Euro multiparter EU Horizon Europe project aiming to make European diets more sustainable. Rimfrost optimizes krill hydrolysate extraction while Møreforskning works on purification, fractionation, and downstream processes. The goal is consumer-friendly and healthy krill protein products for human consumption. They have collaborated previously on the KrillSOFT project.
• UN Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRimfrost Holding AS has embedded the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact into strategies and operations, committing to respecting human and labour rights, safeguarding the environment, and working against corruption. This membership drives the company's sustainability and responsible business practices framework.
• ARK (Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARK aims to promote research on sustainable harvesting of Antarctic krill and generate scientific data from the krill fishery. Rimfrost is one of the founders of ARK. ARK promotes best practices including 100% independent international observer coverage on member vessels.
• NCE Blue LegaseaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCE Blue Legasea is a driving force in innovation, value creation, and use of marine raw material for member companies and the Norwegian fishing industry.
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)coreOthersRimfrost's Olympic Seafoods krill fishery received MSC certification in 2015. MSC is an international non-profit organization whose vision is for the world's oceans to be teeming with life, with sustainable seafood supplies safeguarded for current and future generations.
• GOED (Global Organization for EPA & DHA omega-3s)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOED is a not-for-profit trade association committed to transparency and proper governance in the omega-3 industry, setting high ethical and quality standards.
• CCAMLRcoreOthersCommission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources practices an ecosystem-based management approach to responsible conservation. Krill harvesting is acceptable only when carried out sustainably where both krill and dependent creatures are considered.
• Nofima (The Norwegian Food Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRimfrost collaborated with Nofima on studies of krill hydrolysate addition to Atlantic salmon feed. Studies demonstrated significant appetite, feed intake, and growth improvements in salmon smolts fed diets with 2.5% or 5% krill hydrolysate.
• Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and British Antarctic SurveyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRimfrost hosts experts from these organizations annually for Antarctic ecosystem research, demonstrating commitment to scientific research supporting sustainable harvesting.
• Kongsberg MaritimecoreTechnology or IntegrationKongsberg designed the new ultra-modern krill vessel. Kongsberg and Rimfrost are shaping the future of Antarctic krill fishing through advanced vessel design and technology.
• WestconcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWestcon was awarded the contract to build Rimfrost's new krill fishing vessel worth more than NOK 1 billion. The maritime cluster in Sunnmøre and other Norwegian enterprises secured almost NOK 500 million in orders from the project.
• Tersan ShipyardcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTersan Shipyard in Turkey built the hull of Rimfrost's new krill vessel. Steel cutting ceremony was held on August 20, 2020, and hull launch occurred on November 23, 2021.
• University of BergencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration with the University of Bergen in Norway to study biological effects and mechanism of actions of proteins and lipids derived from krill. Research on atherosclerosis in mice model demonstrated health benefits of krill-derived ingredients. Supported financially by the Norwegian Research Council.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BioMar: Major global aquaculture feed producer with a strong focus on sustainable and functional ingredients including marine proteins. Comparable aquaculture feed channel overlap; potential customer for Rimfrost's krill hydrolysate.
• Cargill Aqua Nutrition: One of the largest global aquaculture feed businesses, supplying fish and shrimp feeds with an extensive ingredient portfolio including marine proteins and hydrolysates. Comparable aquaculture customer base; potential buyer of Rimfrost's krill hydrolysate.
• DSM Nutritional Products: Global nutritional ingredients giant producing omega-3 EPA/DHA oils (including Veramaris algal oil), vitamins, and feed additives for human nutrition, pet food, and aquaculture. Comparable across all three segments with broader ingredient portfolio.
• Skretting: Global leader in aquaculture feed (Nutreco subsidiary) producing feeds for salmon, shrimp, and other species. Comparable in aquaculture channel but is also a potential customer for Rimfrost's krill hydrolysate feed ingredient.

Direct peers

• Pelagia: Norwegian marine protein and oil producer (part of Austevoll Seafood group) supplying fishmeal, fish oil, and marine protein hydrolysates to aquaculture feed and pet food customers. Comparable vertically integrated marine ingredient business with overlapping aquaculture and pet nutrition channels.
• Aker BioMarine: World's leading Antarctic krill harvester and producer of SUPERBA krill oil and krill meal ingredients for human nutrition, pet food, and aquaculture. Directly competes with Rimfrost across all three primary customer segments using comparable phospholipid omega-3 technology.
• Epax: Norwegian producer of concentrated marine omega-3 EPA/DHA oils and phospholipid formulations for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. Comparable to Rimfrost's human nutrition krill oil business in customer base (supplement manufacturers) and ingredient category.
• GC Rieber Oils: Norwegian processor of marine oils including omega-3 concentrates and krill oil for nutraceutical and feed applications. Comparable in product portfolio, processing technology, and customer segments (human supplements, aquaculture, pet food).

Emerging players

• Enzymotec: Specialty phospholipid and lipid-based ingredient company with products like krill-oil alternatives (KT-1) and phospholipid omega-3 concentrates for human nutrition. Comparable in phospholipid omega-3 technology targeting supplement manufacturers.
• Wiley Companies: US-based marine ingredient supplier producing omega-3 fish oils, krill oil, and other marine-derived nutritional ingredients for human and pet nutrition. Comparable product portfolio and target customer base in human and pet supplement markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3q_renufwnrU4S64fjHmmQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/rimfrostkrill
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rimfrostkrill
• Instagraminstagram.com/rimfrostkrill
• Xx.com/rimfrostkrill

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Rimfrost