Cod processing line — Gafanha da Nazaré, Portugal

Cod Processing & Private Label Services — Portugal

Mar Lusitano operates a modern cod processing facility in Gafanha da Nazaré (Aveiro), Portugal — the historic heart of the Portuguese bacalhau industry. We process North Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and other salted fish for importers, wholesalers, retail chains and food service distributors worldwide.

Our Cod Processing Services

  • Splitting & salting — traditional Portuguese wet salting (green salted cod), matured to customer specification.
  • Drying — controlled drying to produce dried salted cod (Portuguese cure klippfish), with consistent moisture levels.
  • Desalting & freezing — traditionally desalted cod, IQF frozen loins, fillets and portions, ready to cook.
  • Filleting & portioning — custom cuts, calibres and weight ranges: whole fish, fillets, loins, wings, bits & pieces.
  • Tenderized octopus and ethnic salted fish (saithe, haddock, ling, tusk) processed in the same facility.

Private Label & Co-Packing

We pack under our own brand or your private label: printed cartons, vacuum packs, IQF bags and retail-ready formats. Artwork, labelling and language requirements (EU, US FDA, African and Asian markets) are handled by our quality team. Minimum runs are flexible — from mixed pallets to full container loads.

Quality & Certifications

Our processing is HACCP based with full lot traceability from raw material to finished carton. We hold MSC Chain of Custody certification for sustainably sourced cod, are registered with the US FDA, and are approved for export to the main European retail chains. Veterinary export certificates (DIPOA, CIQ and others) are available for international destinations.

Logistics & Export

Located minutes from the port of Aveiro and 1 hour from Leixões (Porto), we ship reefer containers (20ft and 40ft) and groupage loads across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Documentation, temperature control and pre-shipment inspection are managed in house.

Related Products

See our wet salted cod and traditionally desalted cod pages, or our compliance documentation.

Request a Processing or Private Label Quote

Tell us your species, cut, calibre and packing requirements: marlusitano@marlusitano.pt | +351 234 397 620

See also our complete guide to salted cod.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Mar Lusitano offer private label cod packing?
Yes. We pack dried, wet salted and desalted cod under your brand — printed cartons, vacuum packs and IQF retail bags — with artwork and multilingual labelling handled in-house, from mixed pallets to full container loads.
What cod processing services do you provide?
Splitting and salting, controlled drying, traditional desalting and IQF freezing, plus filleting and portioning into loins, fillets, wings and bits & pieces — all HACCP-based with full lot traceability.
Are you certified for export to the EU and the US?
Yes. We hold MSC Chain of Custody and HACCP certification, are US FDA registered, and issue veterinary export certificates (DIPOA, CIQ) for international destinations.