19 June 2025

Hailia, a company enabling fish processors to use their sidestreams, such as heads, fins, and frames, for the production of human food, recently expanded its partnership with Finnish fish producer Kalavapriikki, where the latter will implement Hailia’s technology on-site at their production facility in Kuopio, Finland. This is the first time this technology will be implemented outside Hailia’s own factory.

“Kalavapriikki is leading the way in sustainable fish processing, and after a year of working together, we truly appreciate and see their role as a pioneer in the industry. Just three months after we launched our first product together, they are taking the leap and implementing our technology in their production facility. That says everything about how forward-thinking they are as a company. They not only ‘talk the talk, but also walk the walk’, when stating that sustainability and carbon neutrality drive their work,” said Michaela Lindström, CEO and co-founder, Hailia.

Kalavapriikki, a Finnish seafood processor known for its locally sourced rainbow trout, aims to double its production to 4,000 tonnes in 2025 and gain market share from imported Atlantic salmon. The company recently opened a new automated filleting line and sees this partnership as key to scaling sustainably—by transforming sidestreams like fins and frames into nutritious food rather than low-value feed.

From One Fish to a Global Vision

In an exclusive interview with MoveTheNeedle.news,  Michaela Lindström shared how the company began with a simple but radical question: Could more of the Baltic Herring be used for food instead of feed?

“It didn’t make sense to us that such a nutritious and available resource was being so underused in the food system. But as we started developing the technology, we realised something bigger. This isn’t just about one fish or one region… With seafood demand expected to double by 2050, we simply can’t afford to keep using only half the fish for food. Today, up to 70% goes into low-value products like feed or oil.”

That insight has grown into a broader mission: to help the seafood industry globally upcycle sidestreams into high-quality human food, using a clean-label process that locks in nutrients and flavour.

Food Innovation Born from Experience

Hailia’s founders bring a background in plant-based proteins—and have applied similar thinking to seafood. Their mechanical process transforms raw sidestreams (like belly flaps and frames) into structured, sliced food products with the texture and taste of cooked fish.

“We mix and cook the material while building structure and texture, and then we slice it and freeze it. The result is an easy-to-use food product with mouthfeel similar to cooked fish fillet… It’s a smart way to get more value and nutrition out of every fish.”

The approach is catching on. Since September 2024, Hailia’s partners have launched eight new products to both retail and wholesale markets—available as chilled, frozen, ambient and ready meals.

Safety, Structure, and Sustainability

Michaela is candid about the concerns people might have around food made from sidestreams: taste, safety, texture. Hailia has built its process specifically to address these concerns.

“We only work with food-grade sidestreams straight from the filleting line. We process everything in a controlled environment with heat steps that ensure food safety, just like in any professional kitchen or food factory. And because we freeze the product directly after processing, we lock in freshness and extend shelf life.”

Built on Partnerships, Designed to Scale

For Hailia, progress has always come through collaboration. One of its early milestones was the launch of its own industrial-scale demo facility, enabling the company to go from concept to commercial product. Since then, it has signed its first licensing agreement and secured investment from long-time partner Dana Technology.

The expanded partnership with Kalavapriikki marks the next phase: scalable, on-site licensing. And Hailia has global ambitions.

“We’ve already received requests from all over the world. Europe is a natural next step for us. Right now, we have several ongoing projects—including tests, demos, and site visits—with processors exploring how our solution could fit into their own production.”

“Our strategic focus is on licensing our technology to seafood processors, enabling them to upcycle their own sidestreams directly in their factories. This allows them to broaden their product portfolio, offer seafood products at different price points, improve profitability, and reduce waste. All at the same time.”

Eyes on the Horizon

As seafood processors grapple with supply constraints, inflation, and sustainability targets, Hailia offers a timely and practical innovation: a way to do more with what they already have.

The company is actively seeking new partners and investors who share its long-term vision—transforming sidestreams from overlooked by-products into the next frontier of sustainable food.