Vilsund Blue is a Danish example of how food upcycling can transform by-products into new business opportunities while supporting a more circular and sustainable food production system.
Vilsund Blue A/S was established in 1986. It is a Danish company with its roots and headquarters in Nykøbing Mors. In 2010, Vilsund Blue became the first mussel producer to obtain the MSC certification for sustainable mussel fishing.
The company’s main products are mussels, steamed mussels, pasteurized and frozen mussel meat for use in seafood mixes, canned products, and other food applications, as well as soup products.
Vilsund Blue A/S was a finalist in the Seafood Excellence Global Awards in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2023. In 2014, the company won the award for its Mussel Powder, a flavor enhancer produced from by-products generated during mussel processing.
Through its subsidiary, Vilsund Shells, the company also sells mussel shells for a variety of purposes, including horse riding arena construction, drainage systems, insulation beneath houses, entrances to horse paddocks, cattle walkways, base layers for outdoor livestock areas, and around poultry houses due to their excellent load-bearing properties. Whole white cockle shells are used in sulfur filters for biogas plants, where they help remove odors, as decorative materials, and for pathways and open spaces, as they brighten the surroundings and provide effective drainage.
In this way, Vilsund Blue ensures that every part of the mussels harvested from the Limfjord is utilized. Vilsund Blue A/S employs approximately 60 people across its three production facilities in Nykøbing Mors.