Finnish food tech company Hailia Nordic has partnered with fish supplier Kalavapriikki and retailer S Group to launch "Nyhtokirjolohi" or "pulled rainbow trout," made from fish filleting sidestreams.

S Group is a retail cooperative that holds a 48% market share of Finnish retail and also operates in Estonia.

This product, which turns typically discarded fish parts into a ready-to-eat item, is now available in over 500 S Group stores across Finland.

"The unique technology allows fish processors to significantly improve their profitability and sustainability, providing consumers with a healthy and affordable protein source," the firm said.

Hailia -- which aims to establish similar partnerships internationally and to license its technology to fish processing companies -- is currently raising capital in a funding round that will close later in 2024. It said its technology transforms fish heads, frames, and fins -- usually destined for animal feed -- into a nutritious and affordable protein source. The result is a product that mimics the texture of cooked fish fillet, it added.

By utilizing sidestreams, the industry can boost profitability while reducing waste, it also said. Hailia's CEO, Michaela Lindstrom, emphasized the importance of this collaboration as a proof of concept for circular economy practices in food production.

With global seafood consumption expected to rise by 50% by 2050, Hailia's innovation meets the growing demand for sustainable and resource-efficient food products, according to the firm.

Hailia aims to expand its impact through international partnerships and licensing opportunities, further advancing its mission to revolutionize the seafood industry.