Why We Choose Akaroa Salmon: The King of Salmon
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Why We Choose Akaroa Salmon: The King of Salmon

When it comes to salmon, not all fish are equal. At Butcher Box, we only work with producers who care about the process as much as we care about the final product. That’s why we’ve partnered with Akaroa King Salmon — A boutique New Zealand operation raising some of the world’s finest salmon in the pure waters of Akaroa Harbour. Akaroa is also the smallest ocean-based King Salmon farm in the world — a producer that has spent over 40 years focusing on quality over quantity. the result? What we proudly offer today as the best salmon in Singapore.

This is more than a product. It’s a philosophy. And if you’ve tasted the difference, you’ll know why we back it exclusively.

Wild vs. Farmed Salmon: Why Akaroa's Method Matters

The words wild-caught salmon often come loaded with assumptions: that wild means better, cleaner, or more sustainable. But the truth is more complex — especially when it comes to salmon.

Wild stocks of King Salmon are under immense pressure worldwide. Overfishing, warming oceans, and pollution have all taken their toll. By contrast, Akaroa’s farmed King Salmon are raised in small numbers, in open waters, under the highest environmental standards in the world.

What Makes Akaroa Different?

  • No antibiotics or hormones. Ever.

  • Free from parasites: a major issue for northern hemisphere farms.

  • No anti-fouling chemicals: nets and boats are cleaned by hand.

  • Low stocking density: Just 1% fish, 99% water. Plenty of room to move.

  • Sustainable feed: Akaroa are the only King salmon producer in the world to use Blue impact feed. 

  • Use of award winning fermented Algae oil in the feed: Farmed on sugar cane, providing the purest, cleanest Omega-3s you can get — with no nasties whatsoever.

  • No GMOs. No shortcuts.

  • Clean Cold New Zealand waters: Akaroa faces south into the Southern Pacific, with the next land mass being Antarctica — pure, cold ocean waters ideal for raising King Salmon.

New Zealand doesn’t have native wild salmon, so there’s no risk of escapees affecting local ecosystems. In the wild, salmon can consume up to ten times their body weight in smaller fish, but thanks to Akaroa’s unique use of algae-based feed, they’re a net-positive seafood producer — actually increasing global seafood availability compared to the unsustainable harvesting of wild salmon stocks.

Akaroa’s sustainable salmon farming is part science, part stewardship — a modern version of old-fashioned, craft salmon farming built on their decades of animal husbandry.

King Salmon vs. Atlantic Salmon: What’s the Big Deal?

Most salmon you’ll find in supermarkets or restaurants is Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). It’s the default species for salmon supplied globally making up over 99% of salmon you see, it is commonly farmed as:

  • Norwegian salmon

  • Chilean salmon

  • Scottish salmon

  • Canadian salmon

It’s affordable and abundant — but often comes at the cost of flavour, nutritional density, and sustainability.

By contrast, King Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), also known as Chinook, is in a league of its own. It is the rarest species of farmed salmon, accounting for less than 0.5% of the global market. King Salmon is significantly more challenging to raise, requiring over 24 months to grow from egg to harvest-ready fish and Akaroa King Salmon is one of the only producers raising it in open ocean pens.

This is New Zealand King Salmon, raised without antibiotics, with low stocking densities and a focus on quality over quantity.



Why King Salmon Wins:

  • Higher oil content than any other salmon (better taste, juicier texture)

  • Buttery mouthfeel and rich flavour that stands up raw or cooked

  • More Omega-3s, more vitamins, and more protein (perfect for health conscious people)

Health Benefits: A True Superfood

We’re not big on buzzwords — but King Salmon actually earns its place as a superfood. It’s naturally rich in:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) – great for heart, brain, and eye health

  • High quality protein

  • Vitamins A, B6, B12 & D

  • Selenium and iodine

Akaroa has been recognised for its groundbreaking collaboration with BioMar in developing one of the world’s healthiest and most sustainable salmon feeds. The result? Salmon that’s rich in clean, beneficial Omega-3s — perfect for you and your family.

This isn’t just a fish you can feel good about eating — it’s a fish that’s genuinely good for you.

Learn more about their innovative feed here:
Akaroa King Salmon achieves world first with Blue Impact feed by BioMar

The Salmon Journey : From Hatchery to Butcher Box

Akaroa salmon are born in Alpine spring, raised slowly and handled with care at every stage.

1. Fresh Water Hatchery

It all starts in the Alpine springs in Waiau, North Canterbury, where the eggs from hand-selected broodstock are raised in Akaroa's own hatchery.

2. Juvenile Stage

Young salmon (smolt) are reared in outdoor raceways for 6-9 months until they're strong and ready to be transferred. Once they start jumping it's time to move from fresh water to salt water.

3. Transfer to Sea

Smolts of 50g are transferred to Akaroa Harbour, into low density pens — 99% water, 1% fish — to begin the ocean phase.

4. 14-16 Months at Sea

The fish are fed sustainably and monitored by underwater cameras to protect the ocean floor. No chemicals are use to treat the fish or clean the pens, as they are naturally disease-resistant. All work is carried out by hand in accordance with New Zealand's strict environmental regulations.

5. Harvest and Dispatch

Harvesting is humane and fast - only the fish needed each day are selected and immediately stunned at sea. This means no bycatch and minimal waste. The fish are then processed just an hour away in Christchurch and then packed to send to Singapore direct with no stopovers.

6. To You

Delivered Fresh and shipped directly from Akaroa to Butcher Box Singapore - ready to eat whether you're a home cook, chef or premium seafood lover.



Cooking with Akaroa: Versatile, Forgiving, Delicious

Thanks to its marbling and fat content, Akaroa King Salmon is more forgiving than other fish and ideal for a wide range of preparations.


Try these salmon cooking methods:

1. Sashimi-style Salmon

Raw, thinly sliced, and served chilled with soy, ponzu, or wasabi. The rich texture makes it ideal — if you know what you’re doing. Perfect for fans of sashimi salmon.

2. Pan-Seared Salmon

Sear skin-side down for crispy skin and buttery flesh. Serve with miso butter, lemon caper sauce, or a honey soy glaze.

3. Oven-Baked Salmon

Bake at 160°C with olive oil and herbs. Try Dijon and maple glaze, or citrus and dill for something lighter.

4. Poached Salmon

Gentle and clean. Poach in dashi, citrus broth, or olive oil for salads and healthy salmon recipes.

5. Hot Smoked Salmon

Akaroa’s award-winning Mānuka smoked salmon is ready-to-eat and packed with flavour. A top choice for hot smoked salmon lovers.

What About Sashimi?

We get asked this a lot: Is Akaroa salmon sashimi grade?

The honest answer is — we don’t label it that way.

In New Zealand, there’s no official sashimi-grade certification. In Singapore, the SFA enforces strict criteria, including zero tolerance for listeria. This naturally occurring bacteria can be found on any raw fish — even the highest quality — unless it’s been cooked, smoked, or cured.

Because we can’t guarantee how the product is handled once it leaves our store, we don’t make any sashimi-grade claims and cannot accept liability for its raw consumption.

That said, we eat it raw ourselves. So do top chefs. So do plenty of our customers. If you’re confident in your cold chain and know what you’re doing, this is sashimi salmon Singapore diners rave about.

Why Akaroa Is a Sustainability Leader

Akaroa isn’t just sustainable — it’s a world leader in responsible aquaculture.

  • World’s smallest ocean-based King Salmon farm

  • Māori and local ownership, including Ngāti Porou and Ōnuku Rūnanga

  • First King Salmon farmer to use fermented algae as an Omega-3 source

  • No antibiotics, hormones, GMOs, or anti-fouling chemicals

  • Worlds finest feed as part of Blue impact program

  • Certified under New Zealand’s A+ Sustainable Aquaculture Programme

It’s not mass-produced seafood. It’s consciously crafted fish — the kind of sustainable seafood Singapore needs more of.


Awards & Recognition

  • 🥇 Cuisine Artisan Awards

  • 🥇 NZ Outstanding Food Producer Awards (multiple golds)

  • 🧪 NZ Seafood Innovation Awards for algae-based feed

  • 🌿 Monterey Bay Aquarium “Best Choice” and Green sustainability rating

From Ocean to Plate: A Seamless Cold Chain Journey

The journey of Akaroa King Salmon from New Zealand to Singapore is a testament to logistical excellence and dedication to freshness. Once harvested, the salmon are immediately chilled and processed with utmost care. Fillets are vacuum-sealed to preserve moisture, flavour, and texture, ensuring that what arrives at your doorstep is nothing short of pristine.

Through a seamless cold chain operation, the salmon are air-flown to Singapore within 48 to 72 hours of harvest. This rapid transit means you receive salmon that is as fresh as possible — never frozen, always premium. At Butcher Box, we take every measure to handle the product with care, storing it at optimal temperatures until it reaches you.

Exclusive to Butcher Box: Why We Chose Akaroa King Salmon

At Butcher Box Singapore, we are relentless in our pursuit of quality. Our partnership with Akaroa is built on shared values: sustainability, ethical farming, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We chose Akaroa King Salmon not only for its flavour and quality but because it reflects the kind of product our discerning customers expect.

When you purchase Akaroa King Salmon from Butcher Box, you’re not just buying a piece of fish. You’re investing in a story of provenance, responsibility, and taste. We believe our customers deserve only the best, and Akaroa delivers on every front. This exclusive offering is one of the many ways we distinguish ourselves as Singapore’s trusted source for premium meats and seafood.


Trusted by Chefs, Loved by Families

Our customers include professional chefs, home cooks, and food lovers who recognise the value of quality ingredients. Akaroa King Salmon consistently receives rave reviews for its flavour, presentation, and consistency. Whether you’re preparing a weeknight dinner or hosting an elegant dinner party, this is the kind of product that elevates every meal.

We take pride in offering something truly special that isn’t readily available elsewhere. By choosing Butcher Box, you're supporting a commitment to excellence and sustainability.


Buy King Salmon Today and Taste the Difference

Don’t miss your chance to experience the finest King Salmon available in Singapore. Akaroa King Salmon is available exclusively at Butcher Box Singapore, and we deliver islandwide. Whether you’re craving for premium King Salmon or looking to impress with a gourmet meal, this is the product for you.

Place your order now and let Akaroa King Salmon take your culinary journey to new heights.