Canada’s New School Foods Brings Whole-Cut Plant-Based Salmon to National Foodservice Market – vegconomist

Toronto-based startup New School Foods has announced national foodservice distribution agreements with Gordon Food Service and Bondi Produce, enabling the rollout of its plant-based salmon filet to over 30 restaurant locations across Canada.

The expansion comes as the company completes its V1 production line, allowing it to manufacture its whole-cut salmon filet at commercial scale. New School Foods has developed proprietary scaffolding and directional freezing technologies that create a fibrous texture designed to replicate the muscle and connective structure of conventional fish.

Menu integration across major Canadian cities

Distribution through Gordon Food Service and Bondi Produce will see the plant-based product featured on menus at restaurants in Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City. Venues include Toronto’s Bar Avelo, Stefanos, Joni (Park Hyatt), One (Hazelton Hotel), and Vinoteca Pompette, as well as Tuck Shop and Burger Fiance in Quebec. Additionally, the product will be served at national Italian chains Il Fornello and Evviva.

The company, founded in Toronto, concluded a $6 million seed funding round last year, bringing its total raised capital to $18 million. Investors include Good Startup, Hatch, NewTree Capital, and Inter IKEA Group. Asked by AgFunderNews whether IKEA might introduce the salmon alternative to its menus, CEO Chris Bryson declined to comment, instead pointing to IKEA’s public pledge that 50% of its main dishes will be plant-based by 2025. “Plus every IKEA sells salmon, so I’ll leave it at that,” he said to the outlet.

Pilot plant supports tech platform

Production takes place at a recently opened 28,000-square-foot pilot facility in Toronto. The site supports the company’s technology platform, which focuses on creating structured seafood alternatives, distinguishing its offering from restructured or ground analogues that dominate much of the current plant-based category.

New School Foods stated in a recent update that demand following its initial shipment to Bondi Produce has been strong, citing widespread sampling requests from restaurants across Ontario and Quebec.