India-based Zeal Aqua has inked a European supply agreement with Lenk Frozen Foods, a seafood sourcing and selling company based in Bangkok, Thailand. Zeal Aqua, operating 160 farms across 300 hectares in Gujarat, primarily grows Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)-certified black tiger shrimp with an annual output of 2,000 metric tons. The company, known for its antibiotic-free farming practices, was the first ASC-certified black tiger shrimp farmer in India and also farms ASC-certified vannamei shrimp.
Under the agreement, Zeal Aqua has transferred its European business development activities to Lenk Frozen Foods, which specializes in seafood procurement from South and Southeast Asia. Lenk Frozen Foods, with subsidiaries in multiple countries, primarily serves the European market.
Zeal Aqua’s Managing Director, Rohan Navik, expressed enthusiasm about working with Lenk Frozen Foods to supply high-quality black tiger shrimp to the European market. The partnership aims to target an output of over 2,000 MT of black tiger shrimp in 2023, with approximately 50% of the volume earmarked for the EU market.
Lenk Frozen Foods’ Managing Director, Peter ter Heide, sees the collaboration as a strategic move to strengthen its Asian network and meet the growing demand for black tiger shrimp internationally. The focus will include expanding markets in Southern Europe, where black tiger shrimp holds a strong niche alongside vannamei.
The move aligns with Lenk’s commitment to responsible and sustainable aquaculture. Ter Heide emphasized the importance of working with partners like Zeal Aqua, which integrates expertise in farming and sustainability into its business model, evident through ASC certification and the cultivation of native species such as Penaeus monodon.
