There’s nothing like seeing your food at the source. We recently had the opportunity to visit one of our long-standing suppliers and witness firsthand the production behind two of Vantia’s most popular seafood antipasti: Octopus Salad and Seafood Salad. From the boats to the brine, it’s a journey rooted in tradition, sustainability, and serious flavor.

At Musco Food, we take our private brand, Vantia, to heart. These items don’t just carry our label, they carry our commitment to thoughtful sourcing, honoring tradition, and delivering high-quality products that meet the needs of today’s food landscape. Whether you’re a buyer, distributor, deli manager, chef, or specialty retailer, now is the time to tap into the growing demand for Mediterranean-style seafood.

Crafted with Care, Built on Tradition

What we saw on-site wasn’t just a production line, it was a meeting point of traditional techniques and practical, modern handling. The focus is on quality over quantity, keeping things simple and letting the seafood’s natural taste come through. Rather than fully automating their facility, our supplier relies on expert human employees every step of production, because nothing can replace decades of experience filleting mackerels or assessing the tenderness of octopus.

Octopus Salad: Sustainably Sourced, Simply Prepared

Each octopus is wild-caught using small boats at low tide, avoiding large, aggressive nets that can harm the environment and the quality of the catch. Every octopus is caught one by one. This slow, hands-on approach ensures traceability, quality, and sustainability.

After the catch, the octopus is gently cooked in water and salt for approximately 70 minutes, preserving its tender texture and flavor. It’s then marinated in sunflower oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, and parsley before being packaged in brine to lock in freshness without additives.

With octopus growing in popularity among American consumers seeking Mediterranean and globally inspired flavors, this ready-to-serve option checks all the boxes for foodservice and retail. It’s delicious, convenient, and incredibly versatile.

Seafood Salad: A Mediterranean Staple, Reinvented

Vantia’s Seafood Salad evokes the coastal flavors of the Mediterranean, with a vibrant mix of squid, baby octopus, cuttlefish, shrimp, and mussels. The mussels and shrimp come from trusted aquaculture farms, while the rest are sustainably wild-caught.

Inspired by the classic chilled seafood salads of Italy, the salad is lightly dressed with sunflower oil to highlight the seafood itself. It can be served on its own or elevated with grains, legumes, or fresh vegetables.

Available in sizes from retail-ready trays to bulk foodservice packs, it fits a range of needs. It’s ideal for busy kitchens looking to save time, or retailers offering quick, upscale solutions for seafood-loving shoppers.

Add-On Favorites: Anchovies & Seafood Antipasti

The Vantia seafood line goes beyond salads with a few standout options that bring extra value to deli programs and specialty shelves.

Vantia Marinated White Anchovies are sourced from Croatia and frozen immediately after cleaning to preserve freshness and eliminate parasites. Marinated in sunflower oil with parsley and chili, they offer a mild, clean flavor that’s far more approachable than salt-packed varieties. They’re perfect for in-store tastings and work beautifully in bruschetta, pasta, tapas, and wraps.

The Seafood Antipasti Mix is a curated blend of spicy calamari, garlic shrimp, mussels, anchovies, and octopus. Fully prepped and ready to serve, it’s perfect for entertaining, catering, or the holiday season. It’s a high-impact, low-effort solution that brings festive energy to any refrigerated case or antipasti spread.

Built for Consistency, Even in Unpredictable Waters

Today’s seafood supply chain can be unpredictable, especially with environmental factors like El Niño disrupting fishing and making catches harder to get in key regions like Morocco. But thanks to Vantia’s long-standing relationships with Mediterranean producers, we’ve been able to maintain consistency in both quality and availability.

All Vantia seafood products undergo strict food safety procedures, including metal detection and acidification for extended shelf life and product integrity. Every step is built for reliability, from boat to shelf.

Serving Ideas & Versatility

These seafood salads and antipasti are ready to serve, but that’s just the beginning! Here are a few simple ways to add value and variety:

• Toss Seafood Salad with farro, white beans, or couscous
• Plate Octopus Salad with roasted peppers and olives
• Use white anchovies on crostini, in pasta, or folded into wraps
• Feature the Antipasti Mix as part of a ready-to-go party platter

Whether you’re preparing for summer entertaining, expanding your antipasti case, or building out your seafood program, Vantia’s seafood line offers the perfect balance of flavor and functionality. Reach out to your Musco Food rep to request samples or learn more today!