Panama-based cobia farmer Open Blue is making its way to the EU retail market with the launch of a skin-packed cobia loin product expected to hit the shelves this year.

The company, which currently sells 75 percent of its production in the United States and around 25 percent in Europe – mostly in foodservice channels – launched a super-frozen range for restaurants, and it is replicating the product for supermarkets.

The super-frozen loins are reducing the footprint on logistics by allowing the company to export more product in one cargo. The focus is on super-frozen shipments by sea.

“Another great advantage about the super-frozen range is the freshness of the product, and how easy it for chefs to work with loins, instead of the whole fish,” Remco de Waard, director of business development for Europe at Open Blue, told IntraFish.

The fish is frozen within 24 hours of harvest, and the format has also increased productivity and reduced costs by allowing for more volume to be transported from Panama in commercial flights to the main markets.

“We are now working on replicating this format for retail. We’re launching a semi-rigid super-frozen product and we are currently in negotiations with retailers,” said.

It is unknown whether the retail range will sell as a branded product or as a private label.