With a menu of delicious offerings and a company ethos peppered with lofty goals — from supporting local fishing communities and reducing food waste to protecting our oceans and making delicious seafood that's both approachable and accessible —it's no surprise that Scout has an avid following. Now, thanks to a $4 million USD seed funding round, the company is set to expand its offerings, its availability in Canada and the United States, and to deepen its impact from sea to table.
Launched in 2020, Scout was envisioned by partners Charlotte Langley, Adam Bent and Nate Dunn as a way to help home chefs easily enjoy locally-caught seafood in their kitchens. Inspired to revive the fading art of canning, chef Langley and the team set out to develop a line of responsible seafood products fit for everyday meals and entertaining.
“We first brought Scout to market just over two years ago with the ambitious goal to change how consumers perceive and experience seafood,” said Adam Bent, Co-Founder and CEO of Scout, in a press release. “We are more committed than ever to transforming the craft of preserving seafood into a cultural mainstay by celebrating bold ingredients and unexpected culinary techniques alongside complete transparency from boat to plate.”
Revealed this fall, Scout has raised $4 million from Semillero Partners, Almanac Insights, and Export Development Canada. A growth-stage investment firm, Semillero Partners, deals predominantly in responsible food and beverage. For its part, Almanac Insights is a food and tech venture fund with a clear focus on companies making a transformative impact on food systems.
In addition to the seed funding news, Scout also recently shared that it has earned B Corp Certification. Awarded to companies based on their social and environmental performance, Scout is one of few North American seafood businesses to achieve the rigorous designation.
Today, Scout has grown from a Canadian side hustle into a North American leader in sustainable canned seafood. Scout products are now available at more than 1500 major and specialty retailers across the United States, with more launches in the works for 2023. The new year will also see the brand grow its product line, with the introduction of protein-rich Scout Snack Kits. "[O]ur Snack Kits are designed for the larger consumer market as an everyday option from Scout, with a more accessible price point and the same ethical sourcing standards and high-quality products our customers expect," says Bent. The kits will be launching across North America early in the new year.
A company devoted to restoring the tradition of preserving seafood for North America, Scout offers a range of products for every taste. A sandwich mainstay, tuna here is hand-cut and packed wild albacore, available in water, with zippy garden herb pesto, or extra virgin olive oil. Ideal additions to a seacuterie board, Atlantic lobster is dressed with lemon-infused olive oil and PEI mussels arrive in a smoked paprika and fennel tomato sauce, wanting little more than a crusty nub of bread to lounge upon.
"Consumers are increasingly focused on the origins of their food, and they are equally seeking out goods that offer a more thoughtfully designed experience from packaging to taste," said Alex Borschow, Managing Partner of Semillero Partners, in a press release. "Through meticulous sourcing practices and the highest quality standards, Scout is raising the bar for the pantry aisle."
Well on its way to becoming the most trusted seafood brand in North America, Scout takes the guesswork out of making responsible, delicious seafood choices. Whether you crave a refined tuna melt or something swank to serve with your favourite wine, Scout has the goods you'll want to seek out.
