Austral Food is set to introduce premium French toothfish and Friend of the Sea-certified wild prawns to the mainland French market

Austral Food Sets Sights on French Mainland with Premium Seafood Line

FRANCE
Friday, May 23, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Reunion Island-Based Group to Introduce MSC Toothfish and Sustainably Sourced Wild Prawns to European Market.

PARIS – Austral Food, a brand under the Gelaustral group, is poised to expand its reach into mainland France, focusing on two "exceptional" seafood products: French toothfish and wild prawns from responsible fishing. This strategic move marks a significant ambition for the company, as reported by Fanny Rousselin-Rousvoal from Produit de la Mer (PDM).

The family-owned Gelaustral group, well-established in Reunion Island through its Perle Marine brand, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Guillaume Rivière, Managing Director, emphasized the company's core philosophy, stating, "Our specialty lies in frozen or salted/dried seafood with a limited impact on marine ecosystems."

Both new product ranges are slated for a late April launch in France. The first is MSC-certified toothfish, aimed at the general public. Rivière highlights the fish's culinary appeal, noting, "Toothfish is a very oily fish, with a remarkable brown butter flavor and almost foolproof." He added that this species was previously inaccessible to French consumers. Austral Food sources its toothfish from Cap Bourbon, with the fish being frozen at sea immediately after catch and processed by Océane Production. To support the launch, Austral Food plans comprehensive communication kits, recipe booklets, training for fishmongers, and workshops with chefs. Pricing is expected to be competitive with premium whitefish such as John Dory or wild sea bass.

The second key offering comprises responsibly caught wild prawns (Penaeus monodon and Penaeus indicus). These prawns will be available in various formats including whole, tails, peeled, and cocktail. Sourced from small artisanal boats in Indonesia, these prawns will be exclusive to the French market and bear the distinguished Friend of the Sea label. The primary target segment for these prawns is the CHR (catering, hotel, restaurant) network, with prices projected to be slightly below those of Label Rouge shrimp. Austral Food has secured a monthly availability of 15 tons for the French market, aligning with their "less but better" philosophy, as articulated by Guillaume Rivière.

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