Leading Companies the Global Oyster Market, Driven by the Rising Popularity of Seafood

Ward Oyster Company, Cape Cod Oyster Company, Chatham Shellfish Company, Taylor Shellfish Farms, France Naissain and Vendee Naissain, Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd., East 33 Deliveries Pty Ltd, Hog Island Oyster Co., Colville Bay Oyster Co. Ltd., Hoopers Island Oyster Company, and Five Star Shellfish Inc., among others, are the major players in the global oyster market.

The global oyster market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% in the forecast period of 2024-2032. As per the analysis by Expert Market Research, the market is expected to be driven by rising awareness regarding the health benefits of consuming oysters.

Oysters are highly nutritious offering consumers vitamins, minerals, and essential omega-3 fatty acids. It is a low-energy-density food, adding a few calories in a single serving. China contributes around 85% of globally farmed oysters. Further, in Europe, France is the largest producer of oysters. The country is characterised by more than 2,000 miles of coastline, which aids the production of oysters. Oysters are added to the menus of bistros and brasseries around the country.Popular restaurants offering oysters in France include Huitrerie Regis, Oyster Club, Clamato, and Sur Mer.

There is a growing popularity of premium oysters with hard shell and good abductor muscle as more oyster bars are opening globally, thus propelling the oyster market growth. The demand for premium half-shell oysters with a rich meat content provides growers with the opportunity to produce more profitable products rather than oysters traditionally canned or used in soups.

The majority of the oyster species used in aquaculture are found naturally in marine and brackish areas. Oysters possess the ability to close their shells when environmental conditions are unfavourable. This allows them to survive when salinity decreases, or tidal levels leave them exposed to harsh environments. Their adaptability makes the oyster a good species for aquaculture. Oysters can be farmed in locations accessible at low tide, reducing the need for expensive farming equipment or services.

Table: Key Farmed Oyster Species and their Main Producing Countries

Top 10 Oyster Companies in the World:

Ward Oyster Company

Ward Oyster Co. is one of the biggest cage oyster farms on the East Coast of the United States of America. It distributes its oysters across the continental United States. The company has about 20-30 million oysters in cages in its nursery near the mouth of the Ware River and its grow-out location in Mobjack Bay. The company also supplies its oysters to its customers via its online stores. 

Cape Cod Oyster Company

Cape Cod Oyster Company is a significant oyster grower in New England. The company is responsible for around 10% of all Massachusetts oyster production. The company is engaged in responsibly producing and harvesting its oysters. Cape Cod Oyster’s brands include Great White Oysters, Washburn Island Oysters, Boomamoto Oysters, Hammerhead Oysters, Pleasure Point Oysters, Malabar Oysters, and Three Bays Oysters. The company’s farms include Barnstable, Waquoit Bay Falmouth, and West Bay Osterville.

Chatham Shellfish Company

Chatham Shellfish Company cultivates Chatham Oysters on the East Coast for local, regional, and national markets. The company’s oysters are available in regular, petite, and Golden Gorilla grades to meet the consumption needs of various customers.  For instance, the Golden Gorilla grade of oysters is consumed in stews, roasts, and for frying.

Taylor Shellfish Farms

Taylor Shellfish Farms offers its customers, including wholesalers and restaurants sustainably farmed, oysters, clams, mussels, and geoduck. The products are cultivated in its farms in Western Washington. The company is entirely vertically integrated providing its customers an entire range of shellfish throughout the year. Taylor’s Shellfish Markets are in Seattle, Shelton, and Samish Bay. Its oyster bars and shellfish markets provide consumers with a range of oysters.

France Naissain and Vendee Naissain

France Naissain and Vendee Naissain is an oyster hatchery, producing Gigas diploids and triploids oyster seeds. The company uses carefully selected broodstock to ensure traceability, guarantee optimal growth and survival performance to produce high-quality individual oyster spat. The oyster spat is grown out in intertidal zones in Normandy and North Brittany.

Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd.

Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd. cultivates its oysters in one of the largest certified sustainable oyster farms in Europe. The company supplies large quantities of shellfish to the global market. The company’s oyster grades include, No: 3 (75g – 100g), No: 2 (100g – 135g), No: 1(135g – 165g), No: 0 (165g – 210g), No: 00 (210g – 310g), and No: 000 (310g – 420g). 

East 33 Deliveries Pty Ltd

East 33 Deliveries Pty Ltd holds the position of the largest vertically integrated producer, processor, and supplier of Sydney Rock Oyster. Sydney Rock Oysters are extremely rare and natively thrive in just 41 locations on the east coast of Australia. The company’s operations span over hatchery, nursery, production to processing facilities. The company also supplies its products via eCommerce and conducts international trade. East 33’s operations are based in the Port Stephens, Wallis Lake, and Manning River regions of New South Wales. 

Hog Island Oyster Co.

Hog Island Oyster Co. farms oysters on 250 acres of intertidal lands in Humboldt Bays and Tomales. It grows all five edible oyster varieties found in the Northern Hemisphere. The company’s oysters are found in restaurant sin Marshall, San Francisco, Napa, Larkspur, and is also consumed in catering. The company also provides Hog Island Traveling Oyster Bars for various events, such as weddings, cocktail parties, corporate events, and wineries.

Colville Bay Oyster Co. Ltd.

Colville Bay Oyster Co. Ltd. grows top quality cultured oysters in Colville Bay. The oysters are served across Canada in the finest oyster bars and restaurants. The company sells its oysters in three different sizes, including Colville Bay Large (greater than 3.5 inches), Colville Medium (3-3.5 inches) and Sarah Shore (2.5-2.75 inches). The company also provides locally fished lobsters. 

Hoopers Island Oyster Company

The Hoopers Island Oyster Co. provides a fully integrated system for producing oysters. The company spawns disease-resistant seeds and builds and distributes grow-out gear. Further, the company is engaged in designing and processing equipment and creating systems to help oyster farmers increase their efficiency. The company raises millions of premium oysters for wholesalers, restaurants, and individual consumers.