Umios, the Japanese seafood giant previously trading as Maruha Nichiro, has made another investment in Southeast Asia with a stake in Pataya Food Industries.
Tokyo-listed Umios is taking a 25.1% stake in Thailand’s Pataya Food Industries (PFI), which was set up in 1979 and manufactures branded seafood and pet-food products, as well as acting as a B2B supplier in Asia.
Based in the capital Bangkok, PFI has a capitalisation of Bt280m ($8.4m), according to Umios, which did not disclose the target purchase price for the minority interest.
The transaction is being conducted through the Umios group firm Kingfisher Holdings.
Umios said in a statement the deal and “alliance” with PFI will “expand the group’s portfolio of processed foods and other products, as well as its sales channels in Asia, advancing the local strategy set out in its long-term vision”.
PFI supplies a range of brands in seafood, including the tuna and tuna snacks line Nautilus sold in Thailand and France, according to its website.
It also owns the Mongkut Talay and Sea Crown canned fish brands and Titan dried fish skins.
In pet food, the company produces the Regalos and Remy brands.
The Thai business has plants in its home country and also Vietnam.
“The Umios Group and PFI will draw on their combined expertise, brands, and sales networks to expand the reach of their processed foods across Thailand and other Asian markets,” the statement read.
Umios struck another pet-food deal in Southeast Asia in June, taking a 51% stake in Malaysia-based Pet World International.
The Japanese firm said at the time it was paying Wah Kong Corp. Y11.4bn ($73.7m at current exchange rates) for the interest, describing Southeast Asia as the “fastest-growing pet-food market” in Asia.
Maruha Nichiro officially announced its corporate name change last year, effective from 1 March 2026, as the company is seeking to “transform itself into a ‘solution company’ that co-creates value with various stakeholders and solves social issues through food”.
Last year, Maruha Nichiro took full control of Netherlands-based Seafood Connection. Under Maruha Nichiro’s leadership, Seafood Connection had taken a 70% majority interest in another Dutch company, Van der Lee Seafish.
The €40m ($46.1m today) deal saw Seafood Connection acquire shares in Van der Lee Seafish’s subsidiary King Fish Selection.
Umios issued its first-quarter results in August for the 2027 financial year.
Sales were up 5.3% at Y277.60bn, but operating income was down 29.4% at Y6.66bn. Profit attributable to shareholders slid 47.3% to Y3.42bn.
In fiscal 2026, the group reported sales of Y1.11tn, up 2.5%. Operating profit climbed 2.7% to Y31.19bn but base profits dropped 4.7% to Y22.18bn.
