Sourcing tuna for your restaurant, retail shelf, or food service operation comes down to a simple question: will your customers taste the difference? At American Tuna, our wholesale program delivers the same wild-caught, pole and line caught canned albacore that home cooks and chefs already ask for by name. Every can is MSC-certified, traceable to an individual U.S. flagged vessel, and hand-filleted and hand-packed in Oregon and Washington.
Our wholesale partners get access to premium canned albacore backed by complete traceability, family-run American fishing heritage, and a reputation that helps products move off the shelf. Whether you run a specialty grocer, a seafood-forward kitchen, or a food service operation, we work with buyers directly to build an order that fits your volume and timeline.
Ready to talk wholesale pricing and availability? Contact American Tuna to start a conversation.
Why Buyers Choose American Tuna for Wholesale
Canned tuna is a category where quality gaps are easy to taste. Mass-produced options often rely on long-line or purse seine fishing, added fillers, and inconsistent cuts. Our product takes a different path from boat to can, and that difference shows up in every bite your customers take.
Our albacore is pole and line or troll caught in the North Pacific by American fishermen. Raw sashimi-grade loins are sealed in the can and cooked just once in the can, packing the tuna in its own natural juices. No additives. Nothing else.
Shelf velocity matters more than any single sale. Our wholesale partners tell us that once a customer tries American Tuna, they come back for it specifically. That repeat-buyer pattern turns a canned tuna SKU from a commodity into a destination product for your store or menu.
Who Our Wholesale Program Is Built For
We work with a range of buyers, each with different volume needs and product specs. Our wholesale team can tailor quantities and delivery around your operation rather than forcing you into a rigid program.
- Independent grocers and specialty food retailers looking for a premium canned albacore that differentiates their seafood aisle from big-box competitors
- Restaurants and chefs who build salads, crudos, pastas, and tinned fish boards around high-quality canned tuna and need reliable supply
- Natural and organic retailers whose shoppers read labels and expect MSC-certified, pole and line caught, responsibly sourced seafood
- Food service operations and caterers that need a consistent, traceable product across locations, including our 4 lb food service pouch and 4.16 lb bulk can
- Gift box curators, tinned fish clubs, and subscription programs featuring premium pantry goods
If your customers care about where their food comes from, American Tuna fits the shelf.
Pole and Line Caught, One Fish at a Time
Fishing method is the single biggest factor in canned tuna quality, and it is also what separates our product from almost everything else on the wholesale market. Pole and line fishing means fishermen using barbless hooks and poles to catch tuna one at a time near the surface. No nets. No long lines.
This method is far more selective than the longline or purse seine fishing used by most fleets, which results in the indiscriminate harvest of other species. It also protects the fish itself — tuna caught quickly and handled individually keeps a firmer texture and cleaner flavor than fish crushed in a net haul.
Every can of American Tuna can be traced back to the exact captain and vessel that harvested the fish. For wholesale buyers whose customers ask hard questions about sourcing, that level of transparency is a selling point your team can stand behind.
Product Line Available for Wholesale
Our wholesale catalog centers on wild albacore tuna in multiple formats and flavor profiles. Retail-ready options include no salt added, sea salt, garlic, and jalapeño albacore in consumer can sizes, along with our pink salmon. Food service formats include the 4 lb pouch and the 4.16 lb bulk can, both no salt added, designed for kitchens that portion and prep in volume.
Our wholesale team walks new partners through the catalog and helps match products to your specific customer base and use case.
MSC Certification and Traceability
American Tuna is sourced from the MSC-certified American Albacore Fishing Association (AAFA) fishery. The MSC mark on our labels is recognized by label-reading shoppers and gives retail buyers something concrete to point to when merchandising the product.
Traceability goes further than the certification. Every product is traceable back to an individual U.S. flagged vessel, and all American Tuna and American Salmon are processed in Bellingham, Washington; Charleston, Oregon; and Alaska. Shelf life is five years, which simplifies inventory planning for both retail and food service accounts.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
The wholesale inquiry process is straightforward. We ask a few questions about your business, volume needs, and timeline. From there, a member of our team follows up with pricing, minimum order information, and logistics details tailored to your operation.
- New retail accounts: a short intro call to walk through the product line, pricing, and case pack options
- Existing retailers and food service operators: a faster path focused on pricing sheets, lead times, and shipping terms
- Food service and bulk buyers: pouch and bulk can availability, pricing tiers, and freight planning for larger orders
- Gift, subscription, and promotional buyers: seasonal planning so product is available when you need it
We respond to wholesale inquiries quickly because we know buying timelines are tight.
A Brand Your Customers Already Trust
American Tuna was formed by six American pole and line fishing families in San Diego, California in 2004, with a mission to bring responsibly sourced seafood back to American tables and support U.S. fishing communities. That origin story is part of what customers connect with, and it is part of what makes the product easy to sell at wholesale. Shoppers are not buying a generic can. They are buying into a family-owned, responsibly sourced brand with a clear point of view.
American Tuna is already carried by retailers including Whole Foods Market nationwide, Erewhon, Bristol Farms, Gelson's, Nugget Market, New Seasons, and many independent grocers and specialty stores. That brand equity travels with every case you order.
Start a Wholesale Conversation With American Tuna
If you are ready to carry a canned tuna your customers will ask for by name, we want to hear from you. American Tuna works with retail, food service, and specialty buyers across the country, and every wholesale relationship starts with a direct conversation. Contact our wholesale team to discuss pricing, product availability, and how American Tuna can fit into your operation.