The Maine Oyster Company

What The Maine Oyster Company does

The Maine Oyster Company (MOC), founded in 2016 by John Herrigel, is a privately held, Portland, Maine-based direct-to-consumer seafood and hospitality operator that aggregates fresh oysters from a network of 30+ independent Maine oyster farms across four coastal regions (Damariscotta River, Casco Bay, New Meadows River, Mid-Coast) and sells them under three revenue streams: overnight-shipped oyster boxes via UPS Priority Overnight direct to U.S. consumers, paid in-person experiences (oyster shucking classes, oyster farm tours, lobster bakes), and merchandise/gift cards. The company operates two physical venues — the downtown Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy at 38 Portland Street and the Basecamp Lodge coastal retreat at 47 Wallace Circle in Phippsburg — which serve simultaneously as retail, hospitality, event, and operational hubs, including for the collaborative Basin Oyster Project shellfish reef restoration initiative with the Town of Phippsburg, Bates/Morse Mountain, and The Nature Conservancy.

MOC's underlying operating model is a multi-channel DTC seafood and experience brand rather than a technology platform; no proprietary software, AI/ML systems, APIs, or SDKs are disclosed, and the tech stack appears limited to standard e-commerce (with Stripe payment processing). Value is created by curating and aggregating supply from fragmented small-scale Maine oyster farmers, hand-inspecting product at a licensed facility, and delivering it under a "Farm to Slurp Certified" positioning supported by farmer profile cards, regional collections, specialty mignonettes, and an interactive slurp map. Pricing for shipped oysters is bundled into the product (free overnight shipping included), while experiences are priced per person ($40–$55 for shucking classes, $100 for lobster bakes, $140 for oyster farm tours) and gift cards operate on a flexible denomination model redeemable across all channels.

The go-to-market relies entirely on direct channels — owned e-commerce, two physical venues, and corporate/private group bookings — with growth driven by organic social (Instagram and Facebook), user-generated content under #MOCstagram, word-of-mouth, and community events including Maine OysterFest at Harvest on the Harbor, Maine Oyster Olympics, and Bivalve Bowl. MOC serves individual food-and-culinary enthusiasts, gift and corporate gift buyers, private event groups (bachelor/bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners), corporate retreat clients, and tourists visiting coastal Maine. The company remains founder-owned with a small team of roughly 1–10 employees and no disclosed institutional capital.

Name

The Maine Oyster Company

Legal name

Maine Oyster Company

Website

https://themaineoystercompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Maine Oyster Company is a founder-owned, Portland, Maine-based direct-to-consumer seafood and hospitality operator that aggregates oysters from 30+ partner farms across four Maine coastal regions for overnight shipment to U.S. consumers, and operates two physical venues — the downtown Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy and the Basecamp Lodge in Phippsburg — hosting shucking classes, farm tours, lobster bakes, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Seafood & Coastal Hospitality

NAICS

Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (42446), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Meat & Seafood Wholesale-to-Consumer (CRAHAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM), Seafood Markets & Fishmongers (CRAHAHAC)

Keywords

• Maine oyster sales
• Fresh seafood shipping
• Oyster shucking classes
• Oyster farm tours
• Coastal hospitality experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Oyster Sales (Shipped): Fresh Maine oysters are sold online and shipped overnight direct from farm to consumer. The company sources from 30+ local partner farms, hand-inspects each oyster at their licensed facility, and ships via UPS Priority Overnight in eco-friendly insulated boxes with frozen gel packs. This is the core product revenue stream.
2. Experiences & Classes: Paid in-person experiences including oyster shucking classes ($40–$55 per person), oyster farm tours with boat trips ($140 per person), and traditional Maine lobster bakes ($100 per person). Offered at both Portland Raw Bar and Basecamp Lodge in Phippsburg.
3. Merchandise & Gift Cards: Shucking kits (knife, gloves, travel cooler, optional oysters) and gift cards sold through the online shop. These complement the primary product and experience offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Maine Oyster Company sells fresh Maine oysters direct-to-consumer via overnight e-commerce shipping from 30+ partner farms, and operates two physical venues — the Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy in Portland, ME and Basecamp Lodge in Phippsburg, ME — offering shucking classes, oyster farm tours, traditional lobster bakes, and private events. The company also sells shucking kits, oysters-and-caviar pairings, and gift cards through its own online storefront.

Product overview

The Maine Oyster Company operates as a multi-channel seafood and hospitality business offering fresh Maine oysters shipped overnight from 30+ partner farms, in-person dining and experiences at two locations, and curated product bundles. The core product is the Maine Oyster Box (shipped overnight with farmer profile cards and mignonettes), supported by regional collections from Damariscotta River, Casco Bay, and New Meadows River. The experience portfolio includes oyster shucking classes in Portland and at Basecamp, oyster farm tours, and traditional lobster bakes. Retail products include Shucking Kits (with knife, gloves, cooler), Oysters & Caviar pairing, and Gift Cards. The company also operates Basecamp Lodge (coastal retreat with farm stand) and the Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy for walk-in service and private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maine OysterFest: Annual oyster festival event part of Harvest on the Harbor celebration in Portland, Maine featuring 30+ farms and 60+ farmers.
• Maine Oyster Olympics
• Bivalve Bowl

Products and services

• Maine Oyster Box Signature offering of fresh Maine oysters shipped overnight direct from 30+ partner farms, including farmer profile cards, specialty mignonettes, and an interactive slurp map; targets individual consumers nationwide who want traceable farm-to-table seafood.
• Damariscotta River Oyster Collection Regional oyster kit featuring 2 varieties of fresh oysters from the world-famous Damariscotta River region, including Pemaquid, Johns River, Blackstone Pt, and Moondancers; targeted at home consumers seeking regional flavor profiles.
• Casco Bay Oyster Collection Regional oyster kit featuring 2 varieties of fresh Maine oysters from 2 different farmers in the Casco Bay region; targeted at home consumers and gifting.
• New Meadows River Oyster Collection Regional oyster kit featuring oysters from the New Meadows River region, home to 10+ boutique oyster farms; targeted at home consumers seeking boutique Maine oyster varietals.
• Shucking Kit Complete at-home shucking kit including fresh Maine oysters, shucking knife, gloves, travel cooler, and grower profile cards, co-developed with Partytrick for hosting guidance; targeted at home entertaining consumers.
• Oysters & Caviar Specialty pairing of fresh Maine oysters from 2 different farms with a 20g tin of Black River Russian Osetra caviar, shipped overnight; targeted at luxury food consumers and gifting.
• Gift Cards Digital (PDF emailed free) and physical (USPS ground shipping, $5 fee) gift cards in any denomination, redeemable for shipped oysters, shucking classes, experiences, and Portland raw bar purchases; targeted at gift purchasers and corporate gift buyers.
• Oyster Shucking Class - Portland Hands-on Shucking 101 class at the Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy in downtown Portland, ME; $55 per person includes 12 Maine oysters from 2 different farms, shucking knives, gloves, accoutrements (lemons, mignonette, cocktail sauce), with craft beer, wine, and cocktails available for additional purchase and lobster rolls in season.
• Oyster Shucking Class - Basecamp 90-minute hands-on oyster shucking class at The Store in Phippsburg, ME; $40 per person includes 9 Maine oysters, shucking tools, and accoutrements in a working waterfront environment.
• Oyster Farm Tour 120-minute boat trip from Basecamp to Cape Small oyster farm including a hands-on farm experience and a 12-oyster shucking class; $140 per person, targeting tourists and oyster enthusiasts visiting coastal Maine.
• Maine Lobster Bake Traditional coastal lobster bake at Basecamp with a guided oyster tasting led by Lady Oyster; $100 per person includes a curated oyster tasting, 1.25 lb steamed lobster, locally made dessert, and accompaniments.
• Portland Raw Bar & Oyster Academy Downtown Portland raw bar location offering shucking classes, private events, and walk-in oyster service with a full raw bar menu at 38 Portland Street, Portland, ME.
• Basecamp Lodge Coastal retreat center and working waterfront in Phippsburg, ME (47 Wallace Circle) hosting oyster farm tours, shucking classes, lobster bakes, and a self-service farm stand; also home to The Store community hub and The Basin Oyster Project headquarters.
• Private Events Customized private events including shucking classes, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate gatherings, rehearsal dinners, and private lobster bakes at the Portland Raw Bar or Basecamp Lodge; targeted at private event planners and group organizers.

Named customers4 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

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• North East Salt WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaptain Joe (husband of MOC's Bryn Jerome) operates North East Salt Water, offering farm and fishing tours, sunset cruises, striper fishing, and oyster farm tours from the Basecamp dock. North East Salt Water also serves as the primary meeting point for boat charters at Basecamp's water level and collaborates on The Basin Oyster Project restoration initiative.
• Lady OystercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirginia (@LadyOyster) creates world-class culinary oyster and wine tasting experiences at 'The Store' at Basecamp in Phippsburg. Lady Oyster also co-hosts the traditional lobster bake experience with MOC, leading curated oyster tasting discussions as part of the experience.
• PartytrickminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartytrick collaborated with MOC to create the Shucking Kit product — combining MOC's oysters and farmer expertise with Partytrick's event-hosting playbook. The kit includes MOC oysters, shucking knife, gloves, and a travel cooler, plus Partytrick's event checklist and hosting guide.
• Town of PhippsburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator in The Basin Oyster Project — a shellfish reef restoration initiative. The Town of Phippsburg works with MOC and partner organizations to build and restore shellfish reefs along the coast of Maine, serving as a key community stakeholder in the restoration effort.
• Bates/Morse MountaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator in The Basin Oyster Project. Contributes scientific and research expertise to the shellfish reef restoration initiative alongside MOC, the Town of Phippsburg, and The Nature Conservancy.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization collaborator in The Basin Oyster Project. TNC provides conservation expertise and organizational support for Maine coastal reef restoration, working with MOC, Bates/Morse Mountain, and the Town of Phippsburg.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Eventbrite: Online event and experience booking platform — adjacent comparator for the classes/tours/private events portion of MOC's revenue, particularly useful for benchmarking the experience commerce category.
• Goldbelly: National DTC marketplace for regional and artisanal foods including seafood — adjacent platform whose shipping logistics, gifting, and partner-farm curation model are highly comparable to MOC's DTC arm.

Direct peers

• Hama Hama Oyster Company: Pacific Northwest shellfish farm selling DTC oysters online and operating a farm store with shucking classes, retail, and on-farm dining — directly comparable multi-channel oyster experience business model.
• Island Creek Oysters: Massachusetts-based premium oyster grower that operates DTC shipping, a Portland restaurant (Island Creek Oyster Bar), and farm experiences — the closest analog to MOC's combined DTC + raw bar + tours model in the New England shellfish category.
• Taylor Shellfish Farms: Large Washington-state shellfish producer with national DTC shipping, multiple retail stores, and restaurant operations — broader scale peer in the premium farmed shellfish DTC category.
• Browne Trading Company: Maine-based specialty seafood retailer and DTC shipper of oysters and finfish from the Gulf of Maine — operates in the same geography and same DTC premium seafood category as MOC.
• Hog Island Oyster Co: California shellfish farm offering DTC shipping, retail oyster bar, farm tours, and shucking classes across Tomales Bay — overlaps with MOC across shipped product, raw bar, and experiential offerings.
• Rappahannock Oyster Co: Virginia-based oyster farm with DTC shipping, a raw bar restaurant, and farm tours — closely mirrors MOC's DTC-plus-experience playbook on the Chesapeake side.

Emerging players

• Pangea Shellfish Company: Specialty shellfish distributor and DTC shipper focused on premium oysters — comparable DTC fulfillment model with less direct-to-consumer experiential/retail presence.
• Sweet Amalia Oyster Co: New Jersey-based boutique oyster farm with DTC shipments — smaller-scale analog in the farm-direct premium oyster DTC segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/maineoystercompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/maineoystercompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-maine-oyster-company

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 The Maine Oyster Company