Great Lakes Tinned Fish wins MSU Product Center’s 2025 Young Innovator Award
Print
EmailThe Grand Rapids-based company is the first Midwest-based tinned fish company to source exclusively from the Great Lakes region.
The Michigan State University Product Center was pleased to honor Marissa Fellows and her company, Great Lakes Tinned Fish, with the 2025 Young Innovator Award at the Making It In Michigan Conference held on May 7, 2025.
Great Lakes Tinned Fish is the first Midwest-based tinned fish company sourcing exclusively from the Great Lakes region. Incorporating in March 2024 and launching its first product in November 2024, the company has been featured by news outlets like the New York Times, Chicago Magazine, and Crain’s Grand Rapids / Detroit. The company was also a top spot winner of Chicago’s Sunset Foods Innovator Award and a top award winner at Start Garden’s 2024 Demo Day.
Fellows says she wants to put Michigan on the map as a U.S. leader for tinned fish. She has a passion for supporting local fisheries with shared values of upholding sustainable fishing practices. Tinned fish helps create a stable market due to the long shelf life of the product (up to three years). As part of the 100% Great Lakes Fish Pledge, she is working with various suppliers throughout Michigan to drive innovation and reduce waste in the fishing industry, many of whom she hopes to source directly from in the future as she scales and rotates lake of origin for small batch runs.
“Though I’ve been a solopreneur to-date, there’s been a mighty crew to get me here – including the team at MSU Product Center, who supported my vision and gave me integral insight into the canning and regulatory process as I began viability testing and R&D,” said Fellows. “Building a supply chain posed many roadblocks and taught me many lessons, and I’m so grateful to those who shared my enthusiasm for this idea to get past those early setbacks. The goal of continuing to localize all aspects of the supply chain is alive in my mission, and building relationships – with fisheries, ecosystem experts, and operations leaders alike – creates new waves of potential for the future.”
Tinned fish also reflects changing consumer preferences toward snack foods and clean label products. According to Grandview Research’s Market Analysis Report, the U.S. canned seafood market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% between 2025 and 2030, rising to $7.9 billion.
Mollie Woods, director of the MSU Product Center commented, “We are pleased to honor Great Lakes Tinned Fish with the 2025 Young Innovator Award. This company is working to support our local fisheries to create a shelf stable product for year-round sales. We are excited to see the growth of this company in Michigan and beyond.”
To find their products, visit www.greatlakestinnedfish.com/find-product-near-me and be sure to follow Great Lakes Tinned Fish on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
MSU Product Center
Michigan State University Extension and the MSU Product Center assist entrepreneurs and businesses to develop products and services in the food and agriculture markets. Its team of experts consults with clients on a one-on-one basis, helping new entrepreneurs navigate from concept development to launch and beyond. The MSU Product Center also offers specialized services such as labeling, packaging, and nutritional analysis. If you are interested in business counseling from the MSU Product Center, please visit our website.
