Plant-based seafood brand Konscious Foods has closed its series seed financing round, having successfully raised a total of $26 million.

Funding to date has included participation from Protein Industries Canada, Zynik Capital and Walter Group among others.

The funds will be used to grow the brand’s retail and foodservice businesses, support operations at its production facility in Vancouver, Canada, and deploy marketing initiatives for nationwide retail launches.

Konscious Foods was created by plant-based chef Yves Potvin, who also founded the Yves Veggie Cuisine and Gardein brands.

“This investment validates our excitement about the demand – and critical need – for seafood made from plants,” said Potvin. “With the rising demand for fish, and subsequent overfishing crisis, we feel it is crucial to have better for you, better for the world seafood options that don’t sacrifice taste or texture”.

The company offers a range of plant-based seafood products including sushi rolls, onigiri stuffed rice snacks and poke bowls. Its products are available at retailers across the US and Canada, including all Whole Foods Market locations. Konscious Foods expects to be available in over 4,500 stores nationwide by the end of the year.

Iqbal Kassam, chairman of investor Zynik Capital, commented: “Konscious Foods has created true alternatives to some of the world’s most important seafood products and without sacrificing quality, which is a feat unmatched by others in the plant-based food space”.

Walter Group’s CEO and chairman, Pierre Somers, added that Konscious Foods’ products prove that meat alternatives “do not need to be highly processed, filled with unnatural ingredients or cost more than the incumbent products”.

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