Fulton Fish Market Cooperative

What Fulton Fish Market Cooperative does

Fulton Fish Market Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative that operates America's oldest continuously operating fish market, in business since 1822. It manages a 400,000 square foot refrigerated facility at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx, where 23 member seafood wholesale businesses transact, collectively handling approximately 45% of New York City's seafood needs and ranking as the second-largest fish market in the world after Tokyo's Tsukiji.

The cooperative itself is a non-profit management entity with a lean 16-person staff that oversees shared infrastructure rather than trading seafood directly. Its revenue mechanics combine facility-related fees — per-vehicle entrance fees (described as ranging from $5 to $30 per visit), one-time market IDs ($25), tenant leases from member businesses, and event venue rentals — alongside the broader commercial activity of its members, which process millions of pounds of fresh and frozen seafood daily. The product surface spans fresh and frozen seafood wholesale, event venue rental, paid venue tours, and community cultural programming such as the "Fulton Fish for the Bronx" initiative.

The business model is anchored by a 200+ year brand legacy and the structural advantages of consolidation: buyers can source product variety, price discovery, and reliable cold-chain supply from a single physical market, while members share the cost of the refrigerated facility, security, and operations. The 2023 appointment of the cooperative's first-ever CEO and the launch of a national buyer segment indicate an inflection point, with the organization moving from a member-run regional wholesale market toward a professionally managed, multi-product enterprise serving both regional foodservice accounts and national seafood buyers.

Name

Fulton Fish Market Cooperative

Legal name

Fulton Fish Market Cooperative

Website

https://fultonfishcooperative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fulton Fish Market Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative operating America's oldest fish market since 1822 from a 400,000 sq ft refrigerated facility at Hunts Point in the Bronx, serving 23 member wholesalers that handle roughly 45% of New York City's seafood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Seafood Distribution

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)

akta.pro primary industry

Seafood Wholesale (Fresh & Frozen) (AFAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meat, Poultry & Seafood Distribution (CRAOABAC), Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Wholesale (AFAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Wholesale seafood distribution
• Seafood consortium
• Fresh fish wholesale
• Food distribution services
• Fish market operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Bronx

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cooperative Membership & Market Operations: As a member-owned cooperative operating as a non-profit, the Fulton Fish Market Cooperative manages the overall operation of the market. The cooperative handles unloading and delivering inventory for member businesses, site security, leasehold management, public and government affairs, community relations, compliance and legal matters, branding, and marketing.
2. Vehicle Entrance & Access Fees: Charges vehicle entrance fees: Van $9, Straight Truck $12, No-load Delivery $5, Tractor Trailer $30 per entry. Employee lot access $3 per entry. Market IDs for buyers and tenant employees are $25 one-time. Off-hours access $5 per entry. Monthly access card passes available for seafood delivery drivers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Fulton Fish Market Cooperative operates a 400,000-square-foot state-of-the-art refrigerated facility at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx, NY, managing 23 member seafood wholesale businesses that supply fresh and frozen seafood to NYC restaurants, chefs, hotels, and food service establishments. The cooperative handles approximately 45% of NYC's seafood needs and also operates as a premier event and production venue during off-hours.

Product overview

Fulton Fish Market Cooperative is a member-owned seafood wholesale consortium operating as America's largest fish market and second largest globally (after Tokyo's Tsukiji). The cooperative offers two primary product lines: fresh and frozen seafood distributed through its 23 member wholesale businesses to restaurants, chefs, and buyers across NYC and the nation; and event venue services, leveraging its historic 400,000-square-foot refrigerated facility at Hunts Point for film productions, cultural events, and corporate gatherings. The cooperative also operates a vendor directory marketplace, provides guided tours, and hosts community cultural programs including the 'Fulton Fish for the Bronx' arts initiative and Fulton Café food service outlet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresh Seafood Wholesale Wholesale distribution of fresh seafood from around the world through the cooperative's 23 member wholesale businesses, handling approximately 45% of NYC's seafood needs for restaurants, chefs, hotels, and food service establishments.
• Frozen Seafood Distribution Wholesale supply of frozen seafood products distributed to customers across the nation from the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center facility.
• Event Venue Rental at Hunts Point Premier event and production destination that leverages the 400,000-square-foot state-of-the-art refrigerated facility during off-hours for film, television, commercial productions, culinary experiences, cultural celebrations, fashion events, and corporate retreats.
• Venue Tours Guided tours and walkthroughs of the Fulton Fish Market at Hunts Point, allowing visitors to experience the scale, history, and waterfront character of this iconic New York landmark.
• Community & Cultural Events Ticketed cultural and culinary experiences including the Fish Market Monologues series, Caribbean Beach Fete, 7 Fishes Spectacular, and the Fulton Fish For The Bronx arts and cultural program.
• Fulton Café On-site food service outlet located within the market at Unit #97A, 800 Food Center Drive, Bronx, NY 10474.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of NYC's seafood needs handled
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hunts Point Food Distribution CentercoreOthersThe cooperative relocated to the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in 2005. This is the primary operational location for the 400,000 sq ft state-of-the-art refrigerated facility. The cooperative operates within this food distribution center alongside other food suppliers and distributors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sysco: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor, with significant fresh and frozen seafood product lines. Comparable as a competitor for restaurant supply, though not seafood-specialized.
• US Foods: Major U.S. broadline foodservice distributor supplying restaurants with fresh and frozen seafood. Comparable as a large foodservice incumbent competing for the same NYC restaurant customers.
• Performance Food Group: Large U.S. foodservice distributor with seafood product lines serving restaurants and institutions. Comparable as a broadline incumbent competing for foodservice seafood procurement share.

Direct peers

• Citarella: New York City specialty seafood retailer and wholesaler with multiple locations serving restaurants and consumers. Directly comparable to Fulton Fish Market as a NYC-based seafood specialist serving the same chef/restaurant customer base.
• Fortune Fish & Gourmet: Multi-regional U.S. seafood and specialty foods wholesaler (which acquired Seattle Fish Company). Comparable as a national seafood distributor serving restaurant and institutional customers.
• Lobster Place: New York City fish market and seafood wholesaler at Chelsea Market, also operating a wholesale business. Comparable as a NYC seafood market that supplies restaurants and chefs with fresh catch.
• Inland Seafood: One of the largest U.S. seafood wholesalers, distributing fresh and frozen seafood nationwide. Comparable as a large-scale seafood distributor serving foodservice customers across multiple regions.
• Hunts Point Produce Market: Cooperative of produce wholesalers co-located at Hunts Point Food Distribution Center in the Bronx. Comparable as a member-owned cooperative operating within the same Hunts Point campus under a similar business model.

Regional players

• Samuels & Son Seafood: Philadelphia-based multi-generational seafood wholesaler serving restaurants and chefs. Comparable as a family-owned specialty seafood distributor serving the foodservice trade in a major Northeast market.

Emerging players

• Fulton Fish Market (DTC): Direct-to-consumer online seafood brand bearing the Fulton Fish Market name, shipping fresh seafood nationally. Comparable as an emerging DTC seafood brand using the Fulton heritage brand to bypass traditional wholesale channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nicoleackerina
• Facebookfacebook.com/fulton.fish.market.cooperative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fulton-fish-cooperative
• Instagraminstagram.com/fultonfishcooperative

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Fulton Fish Market Cooperative