Tetra Pak, in collaboration with the leading Spanish seafood producer Jealsa, has recently unveiled the industry’s first carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna.
Available in Tetra Recart®, this market-leading innovation launched in Sweden with retailer Axfood in 200ml format will be available to food brands worldwide. The solution was brought to market in collaboration with the leading Spanish seafood producer Jealsa.
A unique paper‑based alternative to traditional cans, Tetra Recart offers food producers a new way to differentiate in one of the seafood industry’s most established categories. The global shelf‑stable tuna market is expected to grow an estimated 12% to 12.4 billion units by 2030, reflecting rising demand for affordable, versatile and long‑lasting protein options.1
Tetra Recart offers brands a cost-competitive, scalable paper-based packaging solution and already supports a wide range of shelf-stable products, from spreads and flakes to shredded tuna and chunks, with plans to expand into additional tuna preparations as the category evolves.
Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak said, “This is true packaging innovation in a category that has looked the same for generations. With the industry’s first carton for shelf stable tuna in Tetra Recart, we are giving producers and brands a new way to stand out on shelf to protect and grow market share, support cost competitive, scalable production, and modernise with a paper-based alternative to cans, while contributing to more sustainable food systems through smarter production and distribution.”
Jesús M. Alonso Escurís, President at Jealsa commented that the company has seen strong market momentum for the new product and is confident that demand for such convenient, modern and sustainable options will continue to grow.
When it comes to functionality, being easy to handle and having the ability to stack efficiently, make it an appealing choice for consumers. In fact, more than 80% of consumers say they would buy tuna packaged in Tetra Recart®, while 58% say they prefer it to existing tuna packaging alternatives.2
The packaging format also delivers significant environmental benefits. Tetra Recart® has the smallest carbon footprint of any package in its category, 85% lower than steel cans and 83% lower than glass jars.3 At scale, this equates to 21,000 tonnes less CO₂ per 1 million cans4. The package also uses up to 71% FSC™ certified paper, sourced from responsibly managed, renewable forests.
In a category with a history of round cans, the distinctive shape of Tetra Recart® creates immediate shelf impact. Large, flat surfaces enable bolder branding and clearer storytelling, while the compact carton shape allows packages to fit tightly together and improve shelf efficiency. The format also supports efficient logistics.
Jealsa will bring various Tetra Recart® product categories to market, both under its own brands (Rianxeira, Mare Aperto and Robinson Crusoe) and 3rd party brands. As demand grows for convenient, protein‑focused foods, shelf‑stable tuna is evolving. Tetra Pak’s game changing packaging solution in carton responds to this shift, helping food producers move beyond cans to modernise the category, differentiate their brands and support more sustainable food systems.
1 Tetra Pak, Shelf stable tuna market assessment, commissioned by Meticulous Research, 2025
2 Global Shelf-stable Tuna Market Assessment Study, Tetra Pak, October 2025
3 Tetra Pak, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Tetra Pak® carton packages and alternative packaging systems for beverages and liquid food on the European market, 2020
4 Tetra Pak, Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Tetra Pak® carton packages and alternative packaging systems for beverages and liquid food on the European market, 2020
