As the food and beverage industry continues to evolve, BettaF!sh is filling a significant gap in the market for plant-based seafood. This insight comes from Deniz Ficicioglu, the founder and CEO of BettaF!sh, in the inaugural segment of FoodNavigator’s Start-up pitch series.
With the plant-based sector rapidly growing, BettaF!sh stands out as a leader in the seafood alternatives market. “Seaweed belongs on all our plates,” asserts Ficicioglu. “It grows in great diversity in all oceans and too rarely finds its way into our diets. Thanks to its great taste, incredible nutritional value, and environmental friendliness, it rightly plays the leading role in our fish alternatives.”
Launched in 2020, this Berlin-based brand is noted for its vibrant branding and imaginative product names—such as SAL-NOM and TU-NAH—which add a playful touch to grocery store shelves.
However, beyond its appealing image, BettaF!sh carries a more serious mission. “Our priority is conserving the oceans,” says Ficicioglu. “We are achieving that by building a whole new industry of impact-enhanced foods based on seaweed. Seaweed cultivation itself is regenerative and a sustainable alternative to fishing.”
Moreover, BettaF!sh is currently co-funded by the European Union as part of EIT Food’s Rising Food Stars programme and has already expanded its reach to eight countries across Europe, in addition to being available online.
According to data from Statista, approximately 6.62 million individuals now identify as vegan within the EU. The increasing popularity of plant-based diets, bolstered by initiatives such as Veganuary, suggests that plant-based brands like BettaF!sh are poised for considerable growth in the coming years.
