Scout has raised US$4 million in a seed funding round, with the money raised to be used to accelerate the Canadian seafood company’s omni-channel brand strategy and operational expansion.
The round was led by Semillero Partners, a seed and growth-stage investment firm focused on responsible food and beverage, and Export Development Canada (EDC), along with participation from Almanac Insights, an early-stage fund focused on companies making a transformative impact on food systems.
“We first brought Scout to market just over two years ago with the ambitious goal to change how consumers perceive and experience seafood,” Scout Co-Founder and CEO Adam Bent said. “We are more committed than ever to transforming the craft of preserving seafood into a cultural mainstay by celebrating bold ingredients and unexpected culinary techniques alongside complete transparency from boat to plate.”
Since launching in June 2020, Scout has expanded beyond its Canadian headquarters to bring responsibly-sourced, restaurant-quality canned seafood to the United States. The brand can now be found in more than 1,500 retail stores across the country, with more nationwide and regional retailer launches planned for 2023.
The company’s chef-crafted products include its best-selling Atlantic Canadian Lobster, in a bright, Rainbow Trout with Dill sourced from Idaho spring-fed rivers, and Smoked Wild Pink Salmon sourced from Alaska.
“Consumers are increasingly focused on the origins of their food, and they are equally seeking out goods that offer a more thoughtfully designed experience from packaging to taste,” Semillero Partners Managing Partner Alex Borschow said. “Through meticulous sourcing practices and the highest quality standards, Scout is raising the bar for the pantry aisle, and we look forward to leveraging our extensive experience in the food and beverage sector to support their mission.”
The seed round comes on the heels of Scout’s B Corp certification, a designation based on a company’s social and environmental performance.
Scout is one of only a few seafood companies in North America to earn B Corp certification.
