Why Value-Added Seafood Is Growing Faster?
Value-added seafood, such as surimi, fish cake, ready-to-cook (RTC) and marinated products, is growing steadily in retail and foodservice worldwide. For B2B buyers, it is an easy way to meet new consumer habits, save kitchen labor and improve margins. Here is why demand is rising and what to look for in a supplier.
Quick view
- 1 Market overview
- 2 Meeting consumer demand for easy and convenient meals
- 3 Practical advantages for restaurants and supermarkets
- 4 Expanding your product range and profit margins
- 5 Save costs and avoid food waste
- 6 Meksea Supplies Quality Value-added Seafood
- 7 🎄 Planning Your Year-end and 2027 Contracts With Meksea
Market overview
The global seafood market is changing quickly. Traditional raw seafood remains in steady demand, and at the same time, value-added products are showing strong and consistent growth across many markets.
Vietnam’s processed seafood exports are growing across several product groups in 2026:
Processed shrimp
- Export value: $973.96M (up 9.1%)
- EU: value-added shrimp up 6%
- Japan: airtight-packed processed shrimp up 19.7%
Canned and processed tuna
- Export value: $253.86M
- Canned tuna: $189.85M (up 5.3%)
- Driven by demand for affordable, convenient food in the US and EU
Processed squid and octopus
- Processed squid: $29.48M (up 11.9%)
- Processed octopus: $34.05M (up 8.5%)
- Selling well in Japan and East Asia
Fish cake and surimi
- Export value: $213M
- Taiwan: +34%, Malaysia: +17%
- US: +17%, Japan: +13%
(Source: Vietnam Customs Department, via VASEP)
For international seafood buyers, retail category managers and foodservice distributors, adding value-added seafood to the product range is a practical way to follow changing consumer habits, save kitchen labor and grow margins.
Meeting consumer demand for easy and convenient meals
Busy schedules and modern eating habits have changed how people buy seafood. Today’s shoppers want healthy options that are fast and simple to cook at home.
- Saves cooking time: RTC and pre-marinated products remove the need to clean, peel or season at home.
- Portion control and less waste: Pre-portioned and pre-packed formats let shoppers cook only what they need.
- Consistent quality: Pre-seasoned products give consumers a reliable, restaurant-style meal every time.
Shrimp and Added-value products area highlighted by our live Value-Added counter
Practical advantages for restaurants and supermarkets
For commercial kitchens, restaurant chains and retail stores, value-added seafood brings clear benefits.
- Lower kitchen labor costs: Staff spend less time cleaning, cutting and preparing seafood.
- Exact portions and stable costs: IQF (individually quick-frozen) products have precise piece weights, so menu pricing and inventory planning are easier.
- Longer shelf life and better display: Vacuum skin packs and tray packs keep products fresh longer and look good on supermarket shelves.
Expanding your product range and profit margins
A complete seafood portfolio, combining classic raw products with value-added lines, gives you a real competitive edge.
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- Higher profit potential: Value-added products turn quality seafood into special retail items that can earn better prices and margins.
- Flexible product mix: Breaded shrimp, Nobashi, marinated skewers and RTC seafood kits give customers more choice and help retailers stand out.
Save costs and avoid food waste
International buyers increasingly ask for formats that cut labor costs and avoid food waste. Peeled, cut or marinated products reduce prep work and waste. Fixed piece weights make menu costing and stock planning simple. Ready-to-sell packs save handling time in stores and kitchens.
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What benefits do value-added seafood offer?
Meksea Supplies Quality Value-added Seafood
As demand for convenient seafood keeps growing, buyers need a supplier who can offer the right formats, steady volume and custom products for their market. Meksea is proud to supply quality value-added seafood to importers, retailers and foodservice distributors worldwide.
- Wide product range: From peeled and deveined to cooked, breaded, and ready-to-cook items, our diverse portfolio is processed in modern facilities under strict international standards, ensuring consistent quality, safety, and traceability.
- Ready-to-cook retail packs: Portioned and prepacked formats that help your customers save prep time and reduce waste.
- Private label (OEM) solutions: Custom packaging, recipes and specification support for your brand, from retail trays to foodservice bags.
- Support for your market: Full documentation and quality assurance support to help your orders go smoothly.
