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Shinkei Systems is scaling its operations in the Pacific Northwest with the acquisition of a 16,000-square-foot seafood processing facility in Tacoma, Washington.
The new Seremoni Grade Plant more than doubles the company’s operational footprint and establishes a strategic West Coast hub close to key fisheries in Alaska, Washington and California. The facility will support the production and distribution of the company’s Seremoni Grade fish, which is positioned as a high-quality, traceable seafood offering for chefs and consumers.
By owning and operating the site, Shinkei gains end-to-end control of its supply chain, from harvest through to processing, enabling tighter quality assurance and improved consistency.
The company currently focuses on black cod, with plans to expand into additional species later this year.
Co-founder and CTO Reed Ginsberg said the investment allows the business to scale while maintaining the defining characteristics of its product, including flavour, texture and shelf life.
The vertically integrated model is also expected to enhance traceability, an increasingly important factor for foodservice operators and retailers navigating sustainability and provenance requirements.
The facility is expected to be fully operational this spring, initially employing more than 50 staff, with additional seasonal hiring anticipated during peak fishing periods.
Alongside increased processing capacity, the Tacoma site will serve as a launchpad for Shinkei’s next-generation quality control platform, NERA. The system analyses biological data from each fish in real time to generate objective assessments of freshness and shelf life, capabilities that could address long-standing challenges in seafood distribution, where standardised expiry metrics are often lacking.
The facility was acquired from FATHOM Seafood, a well-established processor in the Seattle area, and will act as a central hub for national expansion across both restaurant and retail channels.
Founder and CEO Saif Khawaja said the technology provides supply chain partners with greater visibility into product quality, helping buyers make more informed purchasing decisions and reduce waste.
