The plant-based food and drink category has grown and evolved tremendously in recent years. We now have plant-based chicken, beef, sausages, cheeses, milks, chocolates, eggs, you name it there’s a plant-based alternative for it.
But have you ever heard of plant-based tuna?
In episode 64 of Foodpreneur with Chelsea Ford podcast, I (virtually) sat down with BettaF!sh co-founder and co-CEO, Deniz Ficicioglu to learn how her startup is making waves across Europe with their ‘tu-nah’ product that looks, tastes and feels exactly like canned tuna, but is made from seaweed - a product that’s farming practices is regenerative, and a sustainable alternative to fishing. What started as a mission to conserve our oceans, has become a brand with products selling across seven European countries by building an entire new industry of ‘impact-enhanced’ foods made from seaweed.
BettaF!sh’s story is truly inspiring, and in this episode you’ll hear about their early-stage scale journey, as well as:
🐟 How they positioned their product and brand by learning what consumers want from plant-based products.
🐟 How they pitched and won investment, and the kind of investment they initially looked for.
🐟 How they work with their investors.
🐟 How they grew their business by tapping into well-connected networks.
🐟 Current gaps in the market for plant-based products.
🐟 How plant-based has evolved and where it’s going.
LINKS & RESOURCES
If you haven’t listened to episode 62 (19 mins)and episode 63 (23 mins), ‘‘11 Strategies to Grow Your Brand: Part 1 & 2 !’ Listen now.
Season 17 with NFTC
Season 17, out now, is brought to you by NFTC – The Natural Foods Trading Company.
If you're a growing food brand navigating that tricky middle phase—scaling up, maybe landing your first major retailer, figuring out how to buy smarter—NFTC is worth knowing about.
They're a mid-tier ingredient supplier specialising in natural wholefoods: nuts, dried fruits, herbs, spices, seeds, and more. Small enough to offer lower minimums and genuine flexibility, but backed by serious sourcing capability and a team that actually knows its range inside out.
Think of them as the ingredient partner that grows with you—not one you'll outgrow.
Check them out at nftc.com.au
