The Catfish Institute
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersJackson, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
The Catfish Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Catfish Institute
- Legal name
- The Catfish Institute
- Website
- https://uscatfish.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Catfish Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Seafood Industry Marketing and Promotion
- NAICS
- Aquaculture (11251), Aquaculture (1125), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP) (AFALAMAL)
Keywords
Where The Catfish Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jackson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Catfish Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Industry Funding: The Catfish Institute is funded by catfish farmers and feed manufacturers. TCI works with an advertising and public relations agency, an issues management consulting firm, a culinary research and product development firm, and numerous governmental lobbyists at both state and federal levels.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Catfish Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Catfish Institute (TCI) is a non-profit industry trade association that promotes U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish through national and regional advertising campaigns, consumer education, and industry-wide marketing programs. Funded by catfish farmers and feed manufacturers, TCI runs campaigns including Fresh to Your Plate, Imports, and Refreshingly Fresh, while operating the Catfish Trail restaurant program and the USDA-certified sustainability certification program for the domestic catfish industry.
Product overview
The Catfish Institute (TCI) operates as a marketing and promotional organization for the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish industry, formed in 1986. The organization supports catfish farmers through national and regional advertising campaigns, promotional programs, and consumer awareness initiatives. TCI's core offerings include marketing support for U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, the premium Delacata Style Catfish Fillets product line, The Catfish Trail restaurant partnership program, the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Sustainability Certification program, and an extensive online recipes platform. The organization does not offer a technology platform but serves as the primary marketing body for the domestic catfish industry, targeting consumers, foodservice professionals, and retail partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish: The official certification seal and brand for U.S. farm-raised catfish products, representing catfish that meets TCI's quality and sustainability standards.
- Delacata
Products and services
- The Catfish Trail A curated restaurant partnership program featuring restaurants across the Southeast (Texas to Georgia, Tennessee to Louisiana) serving authentic U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish dining experiences. Now in its fifth year with 8 new restaurant stops added in 2025, including the first location in Oklahoma.
Quantifiable outcome
- U.S. per capita consumption of catfish has more than doubled since TCI's formation in 1986
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Catfish Institute
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Catfish Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Catfish Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- The Ramey AgencycoreStrategic creative and media agency partner supporting TCI's dynamic, omnichannel media approach across Meta, YouTube, Pandora, Hulu, and other platforms for campaigns including Fresh to Your Plate, Imports, and Refreshingly Fresh.
- PublixmajorMajor grocery retailer partner in TCI's Sales Incentive Program, funding valuable consumer-directed promotions.
- KrogermajorMajor grocery retailer partner in TCI's Sales Incentive Program, funding consumer-directed promotions in grocery chains across the nation.
- Jim N NicksmajorRestaurant chain partner in TCI's Sales Incentive Program for consumer promotions.
- Texas RoadhousemajorRestaurant chain partner in TCI's Sales Incentive Program for consumer promotions.
- Cracker BarrelmajorRestaurant chain partner in TCI's Sales Incentive Program for consumer promotions.
- Chef KartercoreTexas-based influencer partner creating content for U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish recipes, contributing to influencer marketing program reaching over 970,000 Instagram followers.
- Tamara JohnsoncoreTexas-based influencer partner in social media influencer partnerships program.
- Tim Van Doren (Bama Grill Master)coreTop-performing influencer reaching over 1.2 million followers on TikTok, significantly contributing to influencer program success with posts generating nearly 5,000 engagements.
- Plated by DeecoreTop-performing influencer partner contributing significantly to the influencer program's success.
- Ashley BoydminorRecipe contributor partner for Hot Honey Catfish Biscuits recipe, part of social media influencer partnerships.
- Cara Greenstein (Caramelized)minorRecipe partner providing Pan-Seared Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish with Blistered Corn and Peach Salsa recipe.
- Andres Barcelo (Hollow Leg Kitchen)minorRecipe partner providing Catfish Pontchartrain recipe.
- Mary Alexander Satterfield (Hungry Hooker)minorRecipe partner providing Lemon Garlic Catfish with Creamy Mashed Potatoes recipe.
- Kermilia WhiteminorRecipe partner providing Air-Fried Pecan-Crusted Catfish recipe.
- Dwalette King (Plated by Dee)coreInfluencer partner providing Catfish Po Boy recipe and featured in influencer marketing program.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Catfish Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute: State-backed marketing organization promoting wild Alaska seafood (salmon, pollock, cod, crab). Comparable as a seafood checkoff/marketing body running consumer campaigns, recipe content, and international promotion, though focused on wild-caught species in a different region.
- Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers: Marketing organization for Alaska pollock that runs consumer engagement campaigns, recipe content, and foodservice partnerships. Directly comparable operating model to TCI as a species-specific seafood marketing organization, though focused on wild-caught pollock.
Broad incumbents
- National Pork Board: Checkoff-funded marketing organization for U.S. pork, running consumer campaigns, recipe content, and influencer programs. Directly comparable as a producer-funded protein marketing organization with a similar recipe/content/channel mix to TCI.
- National Cattlemen's Beef Association: Largest U.S. trade association representing cattle producers, running beef demand-building campaigns, recipes, and social/digital marketing. Comparable as a protein commodity checkoff-style trade association with farmer-funded marketing and policy advocacy, though at much larger scale.
- USA Poultry & Egg Export Council: Trade association that develops international markets for U.S. poultry and egg products. Comparable as an agricultural commodity marketing organization running consumer/promotional campaigns and government affairs, though focused on exports and a different protein.
Others
- Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP): Third-party aquaculture certification program operated by the Global Seafood Alliance, certifying responsibly farmed seafood including freshwater and marine species. Comparable to TCI's Certified Processors and USDA Sustainability Certification as a farm-raised seafood certification program, though globally focused and third-party.
- Aquaculture Stewardship Council: Independent international certification and labelling program for responsibly farmed seafood. Related to TCI's sustainability certification positioning as an alternative eco-label that competing imported fish increasingly carry, influencing TCI's competitive messaging.
Direct peers
- National Aquaculture Association: U.S. trade association for the broader aquaculture industry, supporting fish and shellfish farmers nationwide. Comparable as an aquaculture-focused trade association that promotes and advocates for farm-raised aquatic species in policy and consumer markets.
- Catfish Farmers of America: Trade association representing U.S. catfish farmers that developed the CFA Standard for the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Environmental Sustainability Certification Program. Operates in the same catfish industry as TCI, with overlapping farmer membership and policy/advocacy roles versus TCI's marketing/promotion focus.
- National Fisheries Institute: U.S. trade association for the seafood industry, covering all species including farmed and wild-caught. Directly comparable as a seafood marketing and advocacy organization, though broader in scope than TCI's catfish-only focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Catfish Institute social profiles
Digital presenceThe Catfish Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
The Catfish Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Catfish Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Catfish Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Catfish Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Catfish Institute
What does The Catfish Institute do?
The Catfish Institute (TCI) is a non-profit industry trade association that promotes U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish through national and regional advertising campaigns, consumer education, and industry-wide marketing programs. Funded by catfish farmers and feed manufacturers, TCI runs campaigns including Fresh to Your Plate, Imports, and Refreshingly Fresh, while operating the Catfish Trail restaurant program and the USDA-certified sustainability certification program for the domestic catfish industry.
Is The Catfish Institute a public or private company?
The Catfish Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Catfish Institute founded?
The Catfish Institute was founded in 1986. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Catfish Institute based?
The Catfish Institute is headquartered in Jackson, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Catfish Institute make money?
One revenue line is on record: industry Funding.
Who are The Catfish Institute's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and Genuine Alaska Pollock Producers. Broad incumbents are National Pork Board, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. Others are Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council. Direct peers are National Aquaculture Association, Catfish Farmers of America and National Fisheries Institute.
Does The Catfish Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Catfish Institute.
What industry is The Catfish Institute in?
The Catfish Institute's product category is Seafood Industry Marketing and Promotion. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAMAL, Seafood & Aquaculture Certification Services (MSC/ASC/BAP). Its NAICS code is 11251.