Good Catch sends its plant-based burgers into fast food

Plant-based tuna brand Good Catch announced that it will expand its foodservice footprint in New York through its new limited-time partnership with the sustainable restaurant chain Bareburger. While the initial trial period expired on March 10, the company said in a release that it will expand its presence at Bareburger locations later this spring as it continues its “aggressive foodservice expansion” throughout 2021.

The foodservice collaboration is based on Good Catch's Plant-Based Classic Fish Burger that was used to create two menu items: The Gulf, a vegan option stacked high with fresh veggies and signature spinach-based green goddess dressing and The Bay, another choice that is bursting with a spicy kick from jalapenos and chipotle buttermilk ranch.

The classic “tuna” burger from Good Catch is a simple recipe featuring green onion, celery, sea salt and pepper in addition to a blend of peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans and navy beans that is accented by the umami imparted by seaweed and algae extracts. The ensemble of ingredients is meant to mimic the flakiness of seafood, a growing segment in the plant-based movement.

While much of the public’s attention has been focused on the evolution of plant-based meat reminiscent of land animals, Good Catch has steadily been growing its presence as a dominant player in the plant-based seafood space. The company, which is owned by Gathered Foods, has racked up $50.7 million in funding since its founding in 2017, according to CrunchBase. However, not only has the company managed to net an impressive amount of financial support, but it has also hooked several significant partnerships and celebrity investors.

In October 2020, the brand announced its partnership with 100% plant-based restaurant Veggie Grill for an exclusive tuna melt. Then in January, Good Catch announced its partnership with Whole Foods Market for its plant-based deli-style tuna salad in the prepared foods section across 10 states. In order to provide enough of its product to supply both its partners as well as the growing demand for plant-based seafood products, Gathered Foods inaugurated a new factory last summer in Chicago that is equipped to earn the company about $100 million in revenue a year, Food Dive reported.

Not only is Good Catch working toward expanding its footprint in foodservice, but the company said that it intends to also grow its retail distribution for its fish-free tuna offerings as well as plant-based frozen appetizers and entrees, including New England Style Plant-Based Crab Cakes, Thai Style Plant-Based Fish Cakes and Classic Style Plant-Based Fish Burgers.