Acquisition of Ocean Garden
)CenSea Acquires the Ocean Garden Brand Portfolio
Strategic acquisition strengthens CenSea's leadership in the US seafood market, uniting two industry pioneers and building a world-class shrimp portfolio.
Captain Fresh's group company, CenSea, a leading US-based seafood importer and distributor, has acquired Ocean Garden's renowned brand portfolio, bringing together two of the most respected names in the shrimp and seafood industry.
The acquisition augments CenSea's brand portfolio with celebrated brands like Ocean Garden, Compass, Asian Garden, Pride of Mexico, and more strengthening its position in the global seafood industry and reinforcing a shared legacy of seafood excellence.
CenSea is one of the fastest-growing, most widely known, and respected seafood brands in the US today. This acquisition unites two large US seafood importers and distributors—CenSea, a leader in Asian shrimp and other seafood products from around the world, and Ocean Garden, a leader in Mexican and Ecuadorian shrimp—strengthening the Captain Fresh powerhouse of brands.
"Ocean Garden has been a well-respected brand and household name with respect to Mexican shrimp, both wild-caught and farmed, as well as other origins produced for their array of brands. They are known for their quality, and they have an established demand for their products throughout the seafood industry. We are excited to leverage the strength of their brand and product portfolio to provide a stronger basket and a greater variety of products to our customers," said Nate Torch, Co-President, CenSea. "The seafood industry is continuing to evolve, and by joining forces with Ocean Garden, we are further positioning ourselves to create a more resilient and customer-centric seafood conglomerate."
Jeff Stern, Co-President, CenSea, added, "We at CenSea are committed to enhancing Ocean Garden's operations by expanding product portfolios and enabling new markets access while upholding their core values. We are preserving their legacy and enhancing it—ensuring that customers continue to receive the premium-quality seafood they trust, now with even greater efficiency and broader offerings."
The integration brings Ocean Garden's experienced team, led by Celso Lopez, President and CEO, into the CenSea organization under the leadership of Co-Presidents Nate Torch and Jeff Stern. This combined expertise will drive growth, innovation, and market expansion.
"Our customers will continue to receive the same exceptional service and quality seafood that has defined Ocean Garden's success since 1957. What's most exciting is that with our synergies with CenSea and Captain Fresh group's technology-driven approach, we now have the opportunity to set new standards for excellence in seafood sourcing and distribution," said Celso Lopez, President and CEO, Ocean Garden.
The shrimp industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of global seafood. The US is the world's largest shrimp importer, and Mexican wild-caught shrimp has a premium positioning in the market. This acquisition lets Captain Fresh go deeper within the shrimp category, strengthening its brand and product portfolio in North America.
Sourcing multi-species seafood from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean regions, the Captain Fresh group fulfils the growing demand in high-capita markets like the US, Europe, and UAE. Combining the strengths of CenSea and Ocean Garden is a strategic accelerator for the group's multi-geography, multi-species strategy.
By consolidating shrimp supply chains globally, Captain Fresh is well-positioned to enhance its control over cost, quality, and supply reliability.
For the group, this marks the beginning of an exciting journey to grow stronger together and build a large technology-enabled, vertically integrated house of brands in the global seafood industry.
