Captain Fresh’s group company, CenSea, acquires the Ocean Garden portfolio. Photo: CenSea
Strategic acquisition strengthens CenSea’s leadership in the US seafood market, uniting two industry pioneers and building a world-class shrimp portfolio.
Captain Fresh’s group company, CenSea, a leading US-based seafood importer and distributor, has acquired Ocean Garden’s renowned brand portfolio. This acquisition unites two of the most respected names in the shrimp and seafood industry.
The acquisition enhances CenSea’s brand offerings with celebrated names like Ocean Garden, Compass, Asian Garden, and Pride of Mexico. This development strengthens CenSea’s global presence and reinforces a shared legacy of seafood excellence.
CenSea is one of the fastest-growing and most respected seafood brands in the US. This move brings together two large US seafood importers and distributors: CenSea, a leader in Asian shrimp and global seafood products, and Ocean Garden, known for Mexican and Ecuadorian shrimp. This merger further bolsters the Captain Fresh group’s portfolio.
“Ocean Garden has been a well-respected brand and household name for Mexican shrimp, both wild-caught and farmed, as well as for other seafood products. Their reputation for quality has created strong demand across the seafood industry. We are excited to leverage their brand strength and product portfolio to provide a greater variety of products to our customers,” said Nate Torch, Co-President of CenSea.
“The seafood industry is evolving, and by joining forces with Ocean Garden, we are positioning ourselves to create a more resilient and customer-centric seafood conglomerate,” he added.
Jeff Stern, Co-President of CenSea, echoed these sentiments:
“We at CenSea are committed to enhancing Ocean Garden’s operations by expanding their product portfolio and enabling access to new markets while upholding their core values. We are preserving and enhancing their legacy, ensuring customers continue to receive the premium-quality seafood they trust, now with even greater efficiency and broader offerings.”
The integration brings Ocean Garden’s experienced team, led by Celso Lopez, President and CEO, into the CenSea organisation under the leadership of Torch and Stern. This collaboration is expected to drive innovation, growth, and market expansion.
“Our customers will continue to receive the same exceptional service and quality seafood that has defined Ocean Garden’s success since 1957,” Lopez remarked. “With our synergies with CenSea and Captain Fresh’s technology-driven approach, we now have the opportunity to set new standards for excellence in seafood sourcing and distribution.”
Expanding the Shrimp Industry in North America
The shrimp industry is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global seafood sector, with the US as the largest shrimp importer. Mexican wild-caught shrimp holds a premium position in this market. This acquisition allows Captain Fresh to strengthen its shrimp category, enhancing its brand and product portfolio across North America.
Sourcing multi-species seafood from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean regions, the Captain Fresh group caters to high-demand markets in the US, Europe, and the UAE. By consolidating global shrimp supply chains, Captain Fresh is poised to improve cost control, quality, and supply reliability.
About Ocean Garden
Headquartered in San Diego, Ocean Garden Products Inc. is a leading seafood importer, exporter, and sales company with offices across the US and Mexico. Known for premium Mexican white shrimp, wild brown shrimp, and other high-quality seafood, Ocean Garden is committed to sustainability and consistency in serving food service distributors, restaurants, and supermarkets.
About CenSea
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Illinois, CenSea is one of the largest US importers and distributors of frozen seafood. With over 65 years of expertise, CenSea sources high-quality seafood from nearly 25 countries, supplying restaurant chains, retailers, and food manufacturers. Since being acquired by Captain Fresh in 2024, CenSea has prioritised sustainability, traceability, and technology-driven innovations.
About Captain Fresh
Captain Fresh, founded in 2020 by Utham Gowda, is a global powerhouse of tech-led, multi-species seafood brands. The group’s portfolio includes CenSea, Ocean Garden, Koral (Poland), and Senecrus (France). Backed by major investors such as Accel, Tiger Global, and Prosus Ventures, Captain Fresh is reshaping the seafood sector by vertically integrating the value chain through technology.
Operating in over 100 countries, the group sources seafood from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans to meet global demand. With offices in cities like Chicago, West Palm Beach, Paris, Madrid, and Dubai, Captain Fresh remains committed to nourishing the world with responsibly sourced seafood while empowering communities and protecting ecosystems.
Source: Press Release