Exhibiting at Seafood Expo North America 2025

With over two decades of experience, Manuelita Acuicultura has emerged as a prominent player in the Chilean aquaculture industry, specializing in the sustainable cultivation and processing of mussels. The company operates from Puerto Montt, Chile—a strategic location renowned for its pristine marine environment, ideal for high-quality mussel farming.

Core Business and Operations

Manuelita Acuicultura is a subsidiary of Manuelita, a multinational agri-industrial group with a presence in over seven countries. The Chilean aquaculture division focuses exclusively on Mytilus chilensis (Chilean mussels), handling the entire value chain from seeding and farming to processing and export. With vertically integrated operations, the company ensures consistent quality, full traceability, and operational efficiency.

Product and Service Offerings

The company offers a range of premium mussel products including:

• Whole Shell Mussels
• Half Shell Mussels
• Mussel Meats

These are processed at their modern facility in Puerto Montt under strict international hygiene and quality standards. The mussels are harvested from certified sustainable farms and quickly processed and frozen to maintain freshness, texture, and flavor. Their products are tailored for the retail, foodservice, and industrial markets.

Specialisation and Core USP

Manuelita Acuicultura’s unique selling proposition lies in its sustainable aquaculture practices, vertical integration, and consistent quality assurance. The company emphasizes:

• Sustainable farming in Chile’s clean southern fjords
• State-of-the-art processing plants with BRC and HACCP certifications
• Fully traceable supply chain from hatchery to export
• Responsiveness to global client specifications for mussel sizing and processing formats

Their operations are not only efficient but environmentally conscious, supporting local biodiversity and community employment.

Financial Strength

While financial specifics for the aquaculture unit are not publicly broken out, the parent group Manuelita has an annual turnover exceeding $600 million USD, according to company reports. The aquaculture division contributes a growing share, driven by increasing global demand for high-protein, sustainable seafood.

Export and Shipment Data

Manuelita Acuicultura is a significant exporter of mussels, particularly to Europe, the United States, and Asia. According to shipment data from platforms like Volza and ImportYeti, the company has:

• Exported over 3,500 metric tons of mussels in the last 12 months
• Shipped to key importers in Spain, France, the Netherlands, and the United States
• Averaged 40+ international shipments per quarter, making them one of Chile’s top mussel exporters

Their shipments include IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) products and vacuum-packed items suited for large-scale distribution and retail.

Target Market

The company’s main export markets include:

• Europe (Spain, France, Belgium)
• North America (United States, Canada)
• Asia (Japan, South Korea, China)

Manuelita Acuicultura caters to importers, foodservice distributors, supermarket chains, and ready-meal manufacturers that prioritize sustainability, traceability, and product consistency.

Capabilities

• Annual production capacity: Over 5,000 tons of processed mussels
• Modern freezing technologies including IQF and block freezing
• Certifications: BRC, HACCP, and ongoing sustainability certifications such as ASC (in progress)
• Advanced traceability systems linked from seed collection to shipping

The company maintains long-term contracts with local fishermen and mussel growers, ensuring supply reliability and community engagement.

Certifications and Compliance

Manuelita Acuicultura holds:

• HACCP Certification – Ensuring strict food safety protocols
• BRC Global Standard for Food Safety – For operational excellence and product integrity
• SERNAPESCA Certification – Compliant with Chilean national fisheries and aquaculture standards
• Ongoing alignment with ASC Mussel Standards – Expected to be finalized in the next audit cycle

These certifications validate the company's commitment to high-quality, safe, and responsibly produced seafood.

Customer Testimonials

“We’ve worked with Manuelita Acuicultura for over five years. Their mussels always arrive in perfect condition, with great taste and size consistency.”
— Purchasing Manager, European Seafood Distributor (from Seafood Expo Global)

“Their traceability and certification standards are exactly what we need to meet our own sustainability goals.”
— Sourcing Head, North American Foodservice Chain (as quoted in FishFocus interview)

Major Achievements

• Over 20 years of successful aquaculture operations in southern Chile
• Consistent presence in major international seafood expos including Seafood Expo North America and Seafood Expo Global
• Named one of the Top 5 Chilean Mussel Exporters by Chilean Aquaculture Association in 2023
• Recognized for sustainability efforts by Fundación Chile’s AquaInnovo program

Manuelita Acuicultura stands as a trusted, certified, and environmentally responsible supplier of premium mussels, aligning with global trends of health-conscious and sustainable seafood consumption.