Altomar

What Altomar does

Altomar – Comércio de Produtos Alimentares, S.A. is a Portuguese family-owned food company founded in 1987 by Alfredo Guerra and Juvenal Francisco, specializing in the import, processing, and distribution of salted dried codfish (bacalhau) and cod derivatives. The company sources Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) directly from sustainable fisheries in Norway and Iceland (with additional sourcing from the Faroe Islands and Canada), and processes it at ultramodern facilities in Ílhavo, Aveiro, using the traditional Portuguese cure (cura portuguesa) — a method legally protected under the EU 'Especialidade Tradicional Garantida' (ETG) designation — as well as a proprietary premium 'Cura Amarela' (yellow cure) requiring over nine months of maturation. Product output includes Bacalhau Salgado Seco from Norway and Iceland in seven size grades (Jumbo through Miúdo), a full derivative range (lombs, steaks, tongues, faces, cachaços, sames, wings), shredded traditional and Pacific cod, pollock (paloco), and pre-soaked ultra-frozen (ultracongelado) products.

The business operates four complementary distribution channels from a Lisbon headquarters: a directly operated e-commerce storefront (altomar.pt/store) offering free home delivery within mainland Portugal and the Azores and Madeira archipelagos; B2B direct sales to restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses via personalized pricing tables and contact through Pedro Guerra; wholesale distribution to traditional grocery stores (mercearias); and international export to wholesalers and distributors in Africa (Angola, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, South Africa), Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, France, and the Netherlands. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; PayPal is the only named payment integration on the consumer website.

With 11–50 employees, a €700,000 share capital, 700 tons of cold-storage capacity at a Vialonga warehouse acquired in 1992, and active social media engagement on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, Altomar remains a privately held, family-managed SME. Marketing is recipe-driven and seasonally amplified (e.g., the 'Bacalhau & Páscoa 2025' Easter Instagram contest), and the company operates a branded sub-line 'Bacalhau Altomar' as its primary consumer-facing identity.

Name

Altomar

Legal name

ALTOMAR – Comércio de Produtos Alimentares, S.A.

Website

https://altomar.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Altomar is a Lisbon-based, family-owned Portuguese company founded in 1987 that imports, processes, and distributes traditional salted dried codfish (bacalhau) and cod derivatives, serving individual consumers, restaurants, retailers, and international export markets across four continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Salted Dried Codfish Distribution

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Smoked, Cured & Salted Seafood (Lox, Kippers, Bacalao) (AFANADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Smoked & Cured Seafood (Salmon, Herring, Lox) (AFANALAD)

Keywords

• Salted dried codfish
• Codfish processing
• Seafood distribution
• Portuguese fish products
• Frozen codfish products

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisboa

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bacalhau Salgado Seco (Dry Salted Cod): Core product line consisting of dry salted cod from Norway and Iceland, available in various sizes (Jumbo 4.5kg+, Special 3-4kg, Graúdo 2-3kg, Crescido+ 1.5-2kg, Crescido 1-1.5kg, Corrente 0.5-1kg, Miúdo under 0.5kg). Products sold as whole fish, loins, or steaks.
2. Codfish Derivatives: Value-added products including Extra Loins (over 400g), Standard Loins (under 400g), Codfish Steaks, Caldeirada prepared codfish, Codfish Tongues, Codfish Faces, Codfish Napes, Sames, and Flaps. Also includes Traditional Shredded Cod and Pacific Shredded Cod.
3. Ultracongelado (Frozen) Products: Pre-soaked and frozen codfish products including loins, long steaks, medium steaks, traditional steaks, and shredded frozen cod for quick meal preparation.
4. E-commerce Direct Sales: Direct online sales to consumers through the company website with home delivery service at no additional cost within Portugal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Altomar imports Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua) from Norway and Iceland and processes it using the legally protected Traditional Portuguese Cure (Cura Portuguesa) at its ultramodern facility in Ílhavo, Aveiro. The company sells salted dried cod, premium Yellow Cure cod matured over 9 months, cod derivatives (loins, steaks, tongues, faces, necks, wings, shredded cod), and ultra-frozen soaked cod products through direct e-commerce, B2B partnerships with restaurants and grocery stores, and international export.

Product overview

Altomar is a Portuguese food trading company specializing in premium salted dry cod (bacalhau) products. The product portfolio centers on Bacalhau Salgado Seco (salted dry cod) from Norway and Iceland, offered in multiple sizes (Jumbo, Especial, Graúdo, Crescido+, Crescido, Corrente, Miúdo) as loins or steaks. The range includes Bacalhau Cura Amarela (premium yellow-cured cod matured over 9 months), cod derivatives (loins, steaks, caldeirada, tongues, faces, necks, trim, wings), shredded cod products (traditional, Pacific, pollock), and ultra-frozen soaked cod products. All products follow traditional Portuguese curing methods. An online store enables direct consumer purchases with home delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bacalhau Salgado Seco da Noruega (Norwegian Dry Salted Cod) Salted dry cod (Gadus morhua) from Norway, graded in seven sizes (Jumbo +4.5kg, Especial 3-4kg, Graúdo 2-3kg, Crescido+ 1.5-2kg, Crescido 1-1.5kg, Corrente 0.5-1kg, Miúdo under 0.5kg), sold as whole fish, loins, or steaks via B2B and consumer e-commerce.
• Bacalhau Salgado Seco da Islândia (Icelandic Dry Salted Cod) Salted dry cod (Gadus morhua) from Iceland, graded in seven sizes (Jumbo +4kg, Especial 3-4kg, Graúdo 2-3kg, Crescido+ 1.4-2kg, Crescido 1-2kg, Corrente 0.5-1kg, Miúdo under 0.5kg), sold as whole fish, loins, or steaks.
• Bacalhau Cura Amarela (Yellow Cure Cod) Premium yellow-cured cod with smooth palate and unique notes and aromas, matured for over 9 months from the best raw material in green salted state. Sourced from Norway/Iceland, features lower salt content and softer texture.
• Lombos Extra (Extra Cod Loins) Extra-large cod loins (over 400g) from the most noble part of the fish, ideal for traditional dishes and charcoal grilling. Available in 3kg and 5kg boxes.
• Lombos de Bacalhau (Standard Cod Loins) Standard cod loins (under 400g) from the upper part of the fish that flake perfectly. Sourced from Norway/Iceland, suitable for all traditional dishes. Available in 3kg and 5kg boxes.
• Bacalhau em Postas (Cod Steaks) Salted dry cod (Gadus Morhua) cut into steaks using traditional Portuguese curing method, selected and packed for sale in grocery stores.
• Bacalhau para Caldeirada (Cod for Fish Stew) Prepared cod ideal for caldeirada (Portuguese fish stew), presented in tray or bag, available in 500g and 1kg.
• Línguas de Bacalhau (Cod Tongues) Cod tongues (Gadus Morhua) from the North Atlantic, hand-extracted from fresh cod and preserved in brine. Known for unmistakable texture and characteristic cod flavor. Presented in buckets of 500g, 1kg, or 5kg.
• Caras de Bacalhau (Cod Faces) Salted green cod faces cured between layers of salt for an unmistakable flavor. Calibers: 500-800g, 800g-1kg, 1kg-1.3kg, +1.3kg. Boxed/packaged, 10kg.
• Cachaços de Bacalhau (Cod Necks) Cod neck pieces, the most prized part by experts. The steak closest to the head with the most intense flavor. Variable weight.
• Sames de Bacalhau (Cod Trim) Cod trim in brine, a byproduct extracted from the spine during fish scaling. A delicacy perfect for feijoadas or with rice. Available in 500g.
• Badanas de Bacalhau (Cod Wings) Cod wings or sides (Gadus morhua) from Norway/Iceland, presented in boxes.
• Desfiado de Bacalhau Tradicional (Traditional Shredded Cod) Traditional flakes of the best cod (Gadus morhua), without skin and bones. Perfect for cod pastries and fritters. Origin: Norway/Iceland, produced in Portugal. Presented in bags or ecological trays in 400g, 1kg, 2.5kg, and 5kg.
• Desfiado de Bacalhau Pacífico (Pacific Shredded Cod) Pacific cod (Gadus Macrocephalus) bellies and fillets, characterized by whiter meat and lighter flavor. Origin: Pacific Ocean, produced in Portugal.
• Filetes/Palitos de Bacalhau (Cod Fillets/Sticks) Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua) bellies and fillets/sticks. Available in 400g, 1kg, and variable weights.
• Desfiado de Paloco (Shredded Pollock) Salted dry pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) from the Pacific, shredded without skin and bones. Presented in bags or compostable trays in 400g, 1kg, and 5kg.
• Lombos de Bacalhau Ultracongelados (Ultra-Frozen Cod Loins) North Atlantic cod loins (Gadus Morhua) with traditional Portuguese cure, soaked and ultra-frozen in Altomar's factory. Calibers: 200-300g, 300-400g, +400g. Presented in boxes, loose or sanitized, 10kg.
• Posta Longa Ultracongelada (Ultra-Frozen Long Cod Steaks) North Atlantic cod steaks (Gadus Morhua) with traditional Portuguese cure, soaked and ultra-frozen. Long steak calibers: 400-600g, 600-800g, 800g-1kg, +1kg. Medium steak: 200-300g, 300-400g, +400g. Traditional steak: +/- 200g. Presented in boxes, loose or sanitized.
• Bacalhau Desfiado Ultracongelado (Ultra-Frozen Shredded Cod) Atlantic cod (Gadus Morhua) bellies and fillets, soaked and ultra-frozen. Presented in bags, 10kg.
• Loja Online Altomar (Altomar Online Store) E-commerce platform allowing customers to purchase Altomar codfish products directly online with home delivery at no additional cost within Portugal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% natural product - no additives, only fish and salt
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lerøy Seafood Group: Norwegian seafood major that is one of Altomar's key upstream cod suppliers and also a downstream competitor in value-added cod products. The vertical overlap makes Lerøy both a sourcing partner and a peer in the European salted-cod and frozen-cod markets.
• Royal Greenland: Greenland-headquartered seafood group with a substantial wild-caught cod and coldwater species portfolio. Comparable to Altomar in wild-caught North Atlantic cod sourcing, frozen and salted cod processing, and European retail/foodservice distribution.
• Pescanova: Spanish-headquartered global seafood group with significant codfish, frozen seafood, and value-added product operations across Iberia and Latin America. Overlaps with Altomar on codfish procurement, frozen cod products, and Iberian/Latin American distribution channels, but operates at substantially broader portfolio scale.
• Bolton Group (Rio Mare): Italian-headquartered packaged seafood major with the Rio Mare brand and a portfolio that includes canned and processed whitefish products across Europe. Comparable to Altomar in Mediterranean European seafood retail distribution and value-added fish product positioning.
• Thai Union Group: Global seafood giant producing frozen and value-added seafood including cod-adjacent whitefish products under brands such as Chicken of the Sea and John West. Comparable in the broader seafood manufacturing and European distribution space, though Altomar operates at a much smaller specialty scale.

Direct peers

• Conservas Ramirez: Portuguese family-run codfish specialist founded in 1885, selling traditional salted cod and cod derivatives across retail and export channels. Comparable to Altomar in heritage positioning, traditional Portuguese curing focus, and export-oriented business model.
• Iceland Seafood International: Icelandic value-added seafood specialist that processes North Atlantic cod (including salted cod) for European retail and foodservice. Direct comparison to Altomar on raw material origin, cod-product portfolio, and whitefish value-added processing.
• Riberalves: Riberalves is the largest Portuguese salted codfish producer and Altomar's most direct domestic competitor. Both companies import North Atlantic cod, cure it using traditional Portuguese methods, and serve retail, Horeca, and export channels — Riberalves at significantly larger scale.
• Norwegian Seafood AS (Norges Sjømat): Norwegian seafood company specializing in salted cod and clipfish exported to Mediterranean and Iberian markets. Highly comparable to Altomar in cured cod product focus and Mediterranean/Iberian customer base, and competes for the same retail and Horeca accounts.
• Noripesca: Portuguese importer and processor of Norwegian and Icelandic codfish, selling salted cod, loins, and cod derivatives to Iberian retail and foodservice customers. A directly comparable domestic peer competing for the same Portuguese mercearia and Horeca accounts as Altomar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ3R6vdn3M2HNwjcOoDh7Jw
• Facebookfacebook.com/bacalhaualtomar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bacalhaualtomar
• Instagraminstagram.com/bacalhau_altomar
• Pinterestpinterest.pt/bacalhaualtomar1987/pins

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Altomar