What Van der Lee Seafish does

Van der Lee Seafish is a Netherlands-based seafood processor and distributor founded in 1973 in Urk, operating from a single integrated site with over 2,000 tonnes of cold storage, 6,000+ pallet capacity, and a workforce of approximately 120 employees. The company processes, freezes, packages, and distributes a portfolio of 80 fish species and 500+ products organized into four categories: North Sea fish (plaice, sole, halibut), globally sourced fish, breaded and pre-fried added-value products, and a 2021-launched line of V-label certified plant-based vegan fish substitutes. Production assets include Baader filleting machines, GTI injection freezers, tunnel freezers, a GEA coating and forming line, and an Ulma Flow packaging line capable of bags, trays, foil, and carton formats, with a 24-hour catch-to-freeze cycle as a stated quality process.

The business model is B2B sales-led, serving international fish wholesale traders, fish retailers, institutional caterers (airline catering, schools, healthcare), and private-label retail supermarket chains in Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales and processing services (custom filleting, freezing, glazing, breading, packaging), with pricing negotiated directly by a team of regional sales managers. Distribution runs through dedicated sales offices in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece, supported by a network of European transport partners providing twice-weekly groupage.

In May 2025, Seafood Connection Holding B.V., a subsidiary of Japan's Maruha Nichiro Corporation, acquired a 70% majority stake, providing global fisheries backing while the van der Lee family retained operational leadership through three managing directors. The company holds BRC, IFS, MSC, ASC, and V-Label certifications and owns the fishing trawler UK 136 'Drakkar', which secures North Sea fish supply and associated fishing rights.

Name

Van der Lee Seafish

Legal name

Van der Lee Seafish BV

Website

https://vanderleeseafish.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Van der Lee Seafish is a Netherlands-based seafood processor and distributor founded in 1973, supplying 80 fish species and 500+ products (including vegan alternatives) to wholesale traders, retailers, and institutional caterers across Europe from a 120-employee Urk facility with 2,000+ tonnes of cold storage, now 70% owned by Maruha Nichiro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seafood processing

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Value-Added Seafood Packaging (MAP/Vacuum, Portion Packs, Private Label) (AFANADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Breaded/Battered & Fried Seafood Products (Frozen Convenience) (AFANADAH), Breaded & Battered Seafood (Fish Sticks, Nuggets, Cutlets) (AFANALAB), Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG)

Keywords

• Frozen seafood processing
• Wholesale fish supplier
• Breaded fish products
• Plant-based fish alternatives
• Seafood packaging solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Urk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seafood Product Sales: Sale of frozen seafood products including North Sea fish, imported fish worldwide, breaded and pre-fried added-value products, and plant-based vegan fish alternatives. Complete one-stop-shop offering for fish wholesale traders and retailers.
2. Fish Processing Services: Processing services including filleting, freezing, glazing, weighing, packaging, and breading/frying for customers requiring custom processing solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Van der Lee Seafish processes, freezes, packages, and supplies fish and seafood products — including North Sea fish, globally sourced fish, breaded and pre-fried "Added Value" items, and plant-based "Vegan Fish" alternatives — for wholesale traders, retailers, catering operators, and private-label buyers across Europe. The company combines sourcing from its own fishing trawler and Urk-based vessels with in-house processing, custom packaging (bags, trays, foil wraps, cartons), and multi-country distribution.

Product overview

Van der Lee Seafish operates as a total supplier of seafood products from its headquarters in Urk, Netherlands. The company offers four main product categories: North Sea Fish (fresh/frozen local species), Fish Worldwide (imported international species), Added Value products (breaded and pre-fried fish products), and Vegan Fish (plant-based fish substitutes). With an assortment of 80 fish species and over 500 products, the company provides comprehensive packaging solutions including bags, trays, wraps/foil, and cartons. The company also produces ready-made meals like Fish & Chips. Established in 1973, the company employs 120 workers and serves international fish wholesale traders and retailers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• North Sea Fish

Quantifiable outcome

• 80 fish species and 500+ products available from single supplier
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Brouwer TransportminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Europe FlyerminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• HSF LogisticsminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Van Wieren TransportminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Oosterbaan Transport GroupminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Jansen TransportminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• ITS TransportminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Amerongen-KamphuisminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations
• Kotra TransportminorOthersTransport partner for logistics operations

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Princes Group: UK/Italian seafood and prepared foods processor with strong private-label and retail relationships across Europe. Comparable to Van der Lee in terms of private-label production, packaging capability, and European supermarket customer base.
• Young's Seafood: UK-based value-added frozen seafood processor producing breaded, coated, and ready-to-cook fish products for retail and foodservice. Directly comparable to Van der Lee's added-value and breaded product lines and similar European retail customer base.
• Pickenpack Seafood Group: German value-added seafood processor (owned by Nestlé) producing frozen, breaded, and ready-to-eat seafood. Closely comparable in scale and product mix to Van der Lee's breaded/value-added lines and European retail channel focus.
• Frosta AG: German frozen-food manufacturer with a significant fish and seafood product line sold across European retail. Overlaps with Van der Lee on breaded/coated seafood and frozen ready meals.

Broad incumbents

• Nomad Foods: European frozen-foods giant (Birds Eye, Iglo, Findus) with leading market share in frozen fish and seafood across Europe. Operates in adjacent/overlapping categories but at much larger scale than Van der Lee.
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation: Japanese global fisheries and seafood processing conglomerate; majority owner of Van der Lee Seafish via Seafood Connection Holding. Operates broadly in seafood processing, fishing, and trading worldwide — overlapping product categories at global scale.
• Lerøy Seafood Group: Norwegian vertically integrated seafood company covering wild catch, aquaculture, processing, and distribution. Comparable in vertical integration, sustainability certifications, and value-added processing though with stronger salmon focus.
• Thai Union Group: Global seafood processor (Chicken of the Sea, John West, King Oscar) with extensive value-added, canned, and frozen seafood operations in Europe. A broad incumbent in the same product categories Van der Lee competes in across European retail.

Emerging players

• Quorn Foods: UK-based plant-based protein producer (owned by Monde Nissin) with expanding seafood-alternative lines (fish fingers, fishless fillets). Direct competitor in the European vegan fish category where Van der Lee competes under private label.

Regional players

• High Liner Foods: North American value-added frozen seafood processor selling breaded, coated, and prepared seafood to retail and foodservice. Comparable product portfolio and customer model, but primarily serves North America rather than Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/vanderleeseafish
• Facebookfacebook.com/VDLSeafish
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/van-der-lee-seafish

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Van der Lee Seafish