"The Lion's Den" (Vox): "Happy Ocean Foods" - Plant-based alternative to animal shrimp
Created: 04/29/2022, 16:00
By: Joana Lück
Shrimp are tasty, but not exactly sustainable.
That's why the founders of "Happy Ocean Foods" want to revolutionize the fish market with vegan seafood.
Munich – No species-appropriate husbandry, painful deaths of dolphins, whales and sharks due to fishing nets and the environmental aspect have persuaded Julian Hallet (32) and Robin Drummond (28) to develop Happy Ocean Shrymps.
The two management graduates are hoping for a hefty investment in episode five of "The Lion's Den" to revolutionize the fish market.
"The Lion's Den" (Vox): "Happy Ocean Foods" - Plant-based alternative to animal shrimp
Julian Hallet (left) and Robin Drummond present their idea.
(Iconic image) © RTL/Bernd-Michael Maurer
Sustainable and purely plant-based seafood that is in no way inferior to the original in terms of appearance, taste and consistency is no longer a utopia.
As ocean fans, the two friends know how valuable the world's oceans are: "We are enthusiastic divers and surfers and have actually been all over the world with our boards," explains Julian and Robin explains: "It's my first time in Surfed Hawaii, part of my family lives there.
My uncle from Hawaii was a pro surfer and he taught me a bit.”
The fact that people do not treat the sea well and the oceans are acidified by CO₂ emissions has prompted Julian and Robin to develop a seafood that does not contribute to overfishing and protects the environment.
“93 percent of commercial fish species are critically endangered.
More than 300,000 dolphins and whales die in fishing nets every year.” Julian and Robin developed an idea of how seafood can still be enjoyed with a clear conscience.
They initially turned their attention to the shrimp, which has been the subject of particular criticism, as Robin explains: “If they are caught in the wild, countless seals and dolphins die as bycatch.
Raised in aquaculture, the animals often live in miserable conditions or are often treated with antibiotics.”
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"The Lion's Den" (Vox): 300,000 euros as an investment
Even if the Happy Ocean Shrymps look like real shrimp, they are vegan.
"Our Shrymps are made from 100 percent plant-based ingredients, mainly from algae extracts, soybeans and sea salt," says Julian.
A special process creates the consistency and appearance.
The shrimp get their sea flavor from a combination of vegetable oils, spices and aromas.
“We call the mix Makai,” explains Robin.
In addition, the shrimp imitations are rich in nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and proteins.
An investment of 300,000 euros is required so that Julian and Robin can add tuna or salmon to their range in addition to the plant-based shrimp and bring their plant-based seafood to the table throughout Europe.
In return, the founders offer ten percent of their company.
Because so far, the Shrymps can only be bought in selected shops in Munich.