Aquafrais Cannes

What Aquafrais Cannes does

Aquafrais Cannes is a French offshore aquaculture company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Cannes, operating open-sea cage farms in the Bay of Cannes to cultivate premium sea bass (Le Bar) and sea bream (La Daurade). Its production model relies on Mediterranean open-water conditions rather than coastal or land-based tanks, which the company positions as producing superior fish quality. The core portfolio centers on these two species, augmented by three specialty selections — Sélection IKEJIME (Japanese-inspired humane killing for superior freshness), Sélection Filet consommable à cru (fillets processed for raw consumption such as sushi and ceviche), and Sélection 30 mois (fish aged for 30 months for enhanced flavor and texture).

The business is B2B-focused, serving professional chefs, fine-dining restaurants, distributors, and wholesale fishmongers (mareyeurs), with named chef endorsements including Jérôme Rigaud, Jean-Michel Bardet, Julien Roucheteau, Maxime Nahon, Jérôme Coustillas, and Stéphane Riss. A tri-language website (French/English/Italian) is used for content marketing and inbound inquiries; pricing is not publicly disclosed and sales operate on a direct-contact basis. A strategic partnership with La Conserverie Au Bec Fin in Saint-Tropez extends the product line into jarred artisanal Soupe de Poissons, with Aquafrais supplying the fish and La Conserverie handling artisanal canning.

The company is privately held with 34 employees and no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, or M&A activity. Ownership structure, revenue, and financials are not publicly available. Geographic reach is concentrated on the Mediterranean / Côte d'Azur region, though the multilingual website and absence of stated geographic restrictions point to broader professional buyer interest across the basin.

Name

Aquafrais Cannes

Legal name

Aquafrais Cannes

Website

https://aquafrais-cannes.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aquafrais Cannes is a privately held French offshore aquaculture firm founded in 1988 that cultivates premium sea bass and sea bream in open-sea cages in the Bay of Cannes, selling directly to professional chefs, restaurants, distributors, and wholesalers across the Mediterranean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Seafood Production

NAICS

Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore & Open-Ocean Aquaculture (AFAEAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finfish Farming (e.g., salmon, tilapia, catfish) (AFAEAAAA), Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN)

Keywords

• Marine aquaculture
• Sea bass farming
• Sea bream farming
• Premium seafood production
• Offshore fish farming

Headquarters

HQ city

Cannes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Aquafrais Cannes is a French offshore aquaculture company that raises premium sea bass (Le Bar) and sea bream (La Daurade Royale) in open-sea cages in the Bay of Cannes. The company offers specialty selections including IKEJIME-treated fish, raw-consumable fillets, and 30-month aged fish, and partners with La Conserverie Au Bec Fin to produce artisanal fish soup (Soupe de Poissons).

Product overview

Aquafrais Cannes operates as a single-product aquaculture company specializing in premium French sea bass (Le Bar) and sea bream (La Daurade) cultivated in open-sea farms in the Bay of Cannes. The core product portfolio centers on these two fish species, supplemented by three specialty selections—IKEJIME (Japanese-style humane preparation), Filet consommable à cru (raw-consumable fillets), and Sélection 30 mois (30-month aged fish)—which represent premium value-added variations of the same base products. A complementary product line includes La Soupe de Poissons, a partnership-processed artisanal fish soup produced by La Conserverie Au Bec Fin in Saint-Tropez using Aquafrais fish. The company positions itself around quality certifications, Provençal/Méditerranée branding, and chef partnerships for recipes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sélection IKEJIME: Premium fish selection processed using the IKEJIME technique, a traditional Japanese method for humane and quality-preserving fish preparation.
• Sélection Filet consommable à cru
• Sélection 30 mois
• Soupe de Poissons

Products and services

• Le Bar (Sea Bass) Premium French sea bass (loup de mer) raised in open-sea aquaculture in the Bay of Cannes; flagship product representing the company's commitment to sustainable French aquaculture, sold to professional chefs, restaurants, distributors, and wholesale fishmongers.
• La Daurade (Sea Bream) Premium French royal sea bream (daurade royale) cultivated in open-sea cages in the Bay of Cannes; complements the sea bass offering as a second primary aquaculture product for professional culinary buyers.
• Sélection IKEJIME Premium selection of fish prepared using the traditional Japanese IKEJIME technique, a humane killing method that neutralizes the nervous system immediately upon catch to preserve fish quality, flavor, and freshness for fine-dining and sushi-grade applications.
• Sélection Filet consommable à cru Specially prepared sea bass or sea bream fillet selection safe for raw consumption, ideal for sushi, tartare, and ceviche preparations, processed to maintain freshness and quality for premium chefs and raw-bar applications.
• Sélection 30 mois Premium selection of fish aged for 30 months under controlled maturation, allowing enhanced flavor development and texture for fine-dining applications.
• La Soupe de Poissons (Fish Soup) Artisanal fish soup "100% made in Sud," combining Aquafrais Cannes fish raised in the Bay of Cannes with traditional canning and processing by La Conserverie Au Bec Fin in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, preserved in jars for extended shelf life while maintaining authentic Mediterranean flavors; targeted at professional buyers and consumers seeking regional Provençal seafood products.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• La Conserverie Au Bec FincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partnership between Aquafrais Cannes and La Conserverie Au Bec Fin for artisanal fish soup production. Aquafrais provides fresh fish raised in the bay of Cannes while La Conserverie handles the artisanal canning and processing in Saint-Tropez. The collaboration embodies the alliance between two Mediterranean region companies united by passion for quality and authenticity, with shared commitment to sustainability and terroir.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Cermaq: Global salmon aquaculture operator owned by Mitsubishi, with broader seafood processing capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent in aquaculture B2B, though primarily salmon and northern hemisphere.
• Mowi ASA: World's largest salmon aquaculture company, with growing exposure to Mediterranean sea bass/bream. Overlaps in aquaculture, processing, and B2B seafood distribution but is primarily salmon-focused and operates at global scale.

Direct peers

• Cefalo Group (formerly Nireus): Greek aquaculture major producing Mediterranean sea bass, sea bream, and other species for European B2B markets. Direct peer on species and channel, with significantly larger scale.
• Andromeda Group (Avramar): One of the largest Mediterranean sea bass and sea bream producers, formed from the merger of Nireus, Selonda, and Andromeda. Direct competitor on species and B2B distribution, with much greater scale.
• Aqualande Group: Leading French aquaculture group producing sea bass, sea bream, and trout, with both fresh and value-added product lines. Comparable in species focus and French B2B distribution, with a broader portfolio.
• Méditerranée Aquaculture (MedAqua): French producer of Mediterranean sea bass and sea bream with similar open-sea farming model and B2B sales motion. Direct comparison on species, region, and channel.
• Les Poissons du Soleil: French Mediterranean aquaculture company producing sea bass and sea bream, with similar species mix and B2B distribution to French chefs and retailers. Closest direct competitor on species, geography, and customer profile.
• Gloria Maris Group (Philosofish): Greek vertically integrated producer of sea bass and sea bream with own hatcheries, grow-out, and packaging. Direct comparison on species, B2B distribution, and value-added processing — though larger scale and regional.

Regional players

• Scottish Sea Farms: UK-based salmon aquaculture operator serving British and European B2B channels. Comparable in offshore cage model and B2B fine-dining distribution, but different geography and species (salmon vs sea bass/bream).

Others

• La Conserverie Au Bec Fin: Artisanal fish soup and seafood conserverie in Saint-Tropez, currently a partner of Aquafrais for Soupe de Poissons production. Included as an adjacent ecosystem participant that is both collaborator and potential downstream value-add model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cannes-aquafrais

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 Aquafrais Cannes