Bolton Group strengthens sustainable tuna supply after Wild Planet purchase

Bolton Group International has acquired Wild Planet Foods, with the aim of further strengthening its position in the global canned tuna market.

Milan, Italy-based Bolton Group and McKinleyville, California, U.S.A.-based Wild Planet will “work together on a path toward a best-in-class sustainable supply chain – a path that both companies have long-embraced,” Bolton said in a press release. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Wild Planet has been “repeatedly recognized by the most reputable third-party sustainability organizations as the true leader in setting the standard for sustainability across the canned seafood category,” Bolton said. “Furthermore, with national distribution in the U.S. market, Wild Planet’s expertise is leveraged by some of the nation’s most-influential grocers to set corporate environmental standards.”

Bolton Group acquired Bellevue, Washington, U.S.-based sustainable tuna firm Tri Marine in 2019, a leading global sustainable tuna company, according to Bolton.

“These strategic acquisitions confirm Bolton Group’s position as a global player in the sustainable seafood category,” Bolton said.

In addition to the acquisition, Luca Alemanno recently became the CEO of the company after serving as its COO for 10 months, according to Alemanno’s Linkedin profile.  

The Wild Planet acquisition marks another strategic step towards Bolton’s international development goals and will allow the company to grow its presence in the U.S. tuna market – the largest in the world, Bolton noted.

Bolton will retain the Wild Planet name and will invest in the continued growth of the company.

Bolton is working towards having 100 percent of its seafood portfolio sustainably caught by 2024, from 70 percent currently. Wild Planet’s tuna has been 100 percent sustainably-caught via pole-and-line methods since the company’s inception in 2004.

Bolton Group and Wild Planet share a common vision and both are family businesses, Bolton said. Wild Planet was founded in 2004 by Bill Carvalho, a 30-year seafood industry veteran. With more than 70 years of history, Bolton Group was founded by Joseph Nissim and is now led by his daughter, Marina Nissim.

“Bolton Group and Wild Planet are very well-aligned. Both groups have true entrepreneurial passion for product excellence with a view to delighting our customers,” Carvalho said. “We share a deeply-rooted ethical culture, and both companies emphasize building lasting relationships with suppliers and clients. Finally, and of great importance is our shared respect for and commitment to preserving our oceans and the planet for future generations.”  

Photo courtesy of Wild Planet