Product Offerings
Products:
Surimi Seafood: Crab Classic, Simply Surimi, Seafood Snackers
Product Gallery:
Crab Classic
Trans-Ocean Products, Inc. is a leading U.S.-based seafood processing company headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, specializing in the production and distribution of surimi-based seafood products. Established in 1984, the company has played a pioneering role in introducing surimi seafood to the North American market, building a strong reputation for quality, sustainability, and innovation.
Core Business and Product Offerings
Trans-Ocean Products focuses on the development and commercialization of ready-to-eat surimi seafood items, made primarily from Alaskan Pollock, a highly sustainable white fish. The company's product portfolio includes:
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Surimi Seafood
- Crab Classic – America’s top-selling imitation crab meat brand
- Simply Surimi – Clean label, all-natural surimi sticks and flakes
- Seafood Snackers – Individually packaged surimi sticks for on-the-go consumption
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Additional Seafood Products
- Natural smoked salmon
- Cooked and raw shrimp
- Scallops (seasonally available)
All products are gluten-free, high in protein, and designed for use in salads, sandwiches, sushi, and snacks, catering to retail, foodservice, and private-label markets.
Specialization and Unique Strengths
Trans-Ocean is a pioneer in surimi seafood innovation, being one of the first U.S. processors to commercialize seafood alternatives using Japanese surimi technology. Key strengths include:
- Processing facility in Bellingham, WA with modern equipment and food safety systems
- Exclusive use of wild-caught Alaska Pollock, a species certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
- Emphasis on clean label products with minimal additives and preservatives
- Retail category leadership, with strong shelf presence in major U.S. grocery chains
Its commitment to sustainability, traceability, and product transparency distinguishes the company in the competitive seafood segment.
Financial and Operational Insights
As a privately held company and a subsidiary of Japan-based Maruha Nichiro Corporation, one of the world’s largest seafood companies, Trans-Ocean benefits from:
- Global sourcing and R&D support
- Access to premium surimi raw material from Maruha Nichiro’s certified operations
- Integration into a global supply chain with robust quality assurance and logistics systems
Though financials are not independently disclosed, industry sources and retail scanner data confirm:
- Crab Classic leads the U.S. retail surimi segment, consistently holding the top market share
- Distributed in over 15,000 retail outlets nationwide
- Production capacity exceeding millions of pounds per year, with scalable infrastructure
Distribution and Market Presence
Trans-Ocean Products distributes through:
- Major grocery chains including Kroger, Walmart, Albertsons, Safeway, and Costco
- Foodservice and institutional supply chains
- Private label programs for select retailers
Its geographic market spans all 50 U.S. states, with growing interest from Canadian and Latin American buyers. Products are available in refrigerated seafood cases, offering convenience and high turnover in mainstream retail environments.
Target Market
The company targets:
- Health-conscious consumers seeking low-fat, protein-rich, and easy-to-use seafood options
- Retailers and grocers focused on value-added seafood solutions
- Foodservice operators offering salads, sandwiches, and sushi items
- Private label buyers looking for high-quality surimi products with clean labels
Its snack-ready packaging and all-natural ingredients appeal to a growing segment of on-the-go and flexitarian consumers.
Capabilities and Infrastructure
Trans-Ocean’s operational capabilities include:
- High-capacity surimi production line with automated forming, cooking, and packaging
- In-house quality assurance and R&D teams
- Cold chain logistics coordination with national distributors
- Strict adherence to HACCP and FDA seafood regulations
The company consistently invests in packaging innovation, product reformulation, and sustainability metrics, enhancing both consumer appeal and retailer trust.
Certifications and Compliance
Trans-Ocean Products operates under full compliance with:
- FDA Seafood HACCP Regulations
- MSC Certification for sustainable sourcing of Alaska Pollock
- BRCGS Food Safety Certification
- GMO-Free and Gluten-Free labeling standards
- Support for traceable seafood practices and third-party audits
These certifications affirm the company’s focus on safety, sustainability, and market transparency.
Public Recognition and Customer Feedback
Trans-Ocean's products, particularly Crab Classic, are consistently recognized in consumer seafood rankings and health publications as:
- Top-rated surimi brand for taste and clean ingredients
- Low-calorie seafood alternative
- Affordable protein source for families and health-oriented consumers
Customer reviews highlight the product’s convenience, freshness, and versatility, with strong loyalty among repeat buyers. The brand is often featured in seafood merchandising promotions and supermarket seafood case studies.
Major Achievements
- First U.S. company to introduce retail-packaged surimi seafood in the mid-1980s
- Achieved category leadership with Crab Classic in the refrigerated surimi seafood segment
- Helped popularize surimi as a sustainable and affordable seafood alternative
- Partnered with Maruha Nichiro to scale traceable and eco-certified seafood supply chains
- Developed Simply Surimi to address consumer demand for clean label foods, expanding product accessibility in natural and organic grocery formats
Trans-Ocean Products, Inc. stands as a proven innovator in the U.S. seafood industry, offering responsibly sourced, consumer-friendly surimi products backed by decades of technical expertise and brand equity. Its leadership in product quality, sustainability, and health-conscious innovation continues to drive growth in a competitive and evolving seafood market.