Summary: PescoAndGo focuses on fresh fish delivered to your home with quick delivery in coverage areas. Bacalalo specializes in premium cod (salted, desalted, smoked), Cantabrian anchovies, caviar, and gourmet preserves with nationwide shipping in Spain. In this comparison, we analyze their catalog, logistics, technology, guarantees, and prices to help you know when to choose each store and why many customers combine both.
Table of Contents
- The rise of home fish delivery in Spain
- Two philosophies of online fish sales
- What PescoAndGo offers
- What Bacalalo offers
- Full comparison table
- Cod: the big difference
- Logistics models: cured vs. fresh
- Shipping, coverage, and logistics
- User experience and technology
- Price comparison and perceived value
- Guarantee and return policy
- Who each store is for
- Frequently asked questions
The rise of home fish delivery in Spain
Spain is the second-largest per capita fish consumer in the European Union, only behind Portugal. However, the sales channel has changed radically in the last decade. What used to be a monopoly of municipal markets and neighborhood fishmongers is now divided between supermarkets, large retailers, and a growing number of online fish stores that promise market quality with the convenience of a click.
The figures speak for themselves: online food commerce in Spain grew by over 25% annually between 2020 and 2024, and the fish and seafood category was one of those that initially generated the most resistance but later achieved the most loyalty. Consumers who try to buy fish online and receive a product in good condition tend to repeat, because it saves time without sacrificing quality.
Within this ecosystem, two clearly differentiated models coexist: that of digital fresh fishmongers, which replicate the market experience with ultra-fast deliveries, and that of specialists in cured, preserved, or premium products, which offer a deep catalog in specific categories. PescoAndGo and Bacalalo represent, respectively, each of these models. Understanding their differences is key to deciding where to buy based on your needs.
Two philosophies of online fish sales
The online fish market in Spain has grown enormously in recent years, and each store has found its niche. PescoAndGo and Bacalalo represent two complementary approaches worth understanding before making your first purchase.
PescoAndGo was born with a delivery startup mindset: fresh fish of the day, delivered fast, with a modern digital experience. It's the neighborhood fishmonger reinvented for the generation that buys via app. Its value proposition revolves around immediacy: you see the fish available today, you order it, and it arrives in hours.
Bacalalo comes from another tradition: 35 years in the Mercat del Ninot in Barcelona, specializing in salted, desalted, and smoked cod, Cantabrian anchovies, premium caviar, and gourmet preserves. It doesn't try to be everything to everyone. It does a few things, but it does them with a level of depth that a generalist cannot match. Each cod loin is selected by thickness, each anchovy is classified by size, and caviar is imported directly from producers with full traceability.
They are, in essence, two different answers to the same question: how to bring the best seafood to your table without leaving home. One solves it with speed and breadth; the other, with specialization and depth.
What PescoAndGo offers
PescoAndGo positions itself as an online fresh fishmonger. Its catalog varies according to the fish market and the season, which is itself an indicator of freshness. A typical day may include:
- Fresh fish of the day: hake, sea bass, sea bream, monkfish, sole, turbot
- Fresh and frozen seafood: shrimp, prawns, Norway lobster, lobster
- Seasonal crustaceans: gooseneck barnacles, spider crabs, brown crab
- Ready-to-cook preparations: clean fillets, oven-ready trays
- Fast delivery in coverage areas, generally the same day or the next
Its strong point is freshness and delivery speed. If you need fresh fish for today or tomorrow, it's a practical option that saves you a trip to the market. The model is reminiscent of other food startups that have digitized the short chain: from boat to your door with the fewest possible intermediaries.
The natural drawback of this model is geographical dependence. Delivering a fresh sea bream in optimal conditions requires a short logistics chain, which limits the radius of action. Outside major metropolitan areas, the experience may not be the same.
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What Bacalalo offers
Bacalalo focuses on premium seafood products with a long shelf life: cod in all its forms, artisanal preserves, selected anchovies, and caviar. It's the traditional cod store model, transferred to the digital channel with all the accumulated knowledge from over three decades of activity. Its catalog includes:
- Salted cod from Iceland and Norway: loins, flakes, shredded, skins, pieces
- Professionally desalted cod ready to cook, with the exact salt point
- Cod cheeks, tripe, maw, and other specialist cuts
- Artisanal smoked cod in different formats
- Cantabrian anchovies selection 00 and gourmet from artisanal producers
- Premium caviar: Beluga, Osetra, Baerii, and signature varieties
- Gourmet preserves: mussels, cockles, razor clams, smoked sardines, bonito belly
The structural advantage of this catalog is that, by not working with ultra-perishable products, Bacalalo can ship nationwide with a guarantee that the product arrives in perfect condition. Salted cod, preserved anchovies, or a jar of caviar travel much better than fresh sea bream. There are no logistical rushes or geographical limitations.
Furthermore, the depth of the catalog within each category is remarkable. In salted cod alone, there are more than eight different references by cut, thickness, and origin. For anchovies, several artisanal Cantabrian brands are used with different sizes and maturation levels. This is a level of specialization you only achieve when your business has been dedicated to it for decades.
Full comparison table
| Category | Bacalalo | PescoAndGo |
|---|---|---|
| Business Model | Specialist in cod and premium seafood products | Online fresh fishmonger with home delivery |
| Origin and History | Mercat del Ninot, Barcelona (since 1990, 35+ years) | Digital platform for fish sales |
| Salted/Desalted Cod | 8+ cuts, Iceland/Norway origin, professional desalted | Not its specialty |
| Fresh Fish | Not available (specialist in cured/preserved) | Wide daily catalog depending on market availability |
| Premium Anchovies | Selection 00, multiple artisanal Cantabrian brands | Limited or not available |
| Caviar | Beluga, Osetra, Baerii, and signature varieties | Not available |
| Gourmet Preserves | Extensive artisanal catalog (mussels, razor clams, cockles, bonito belly) | Limited |
| Fresh Seafood | Not available | Wide: shrimp, Norway lobster, gooseneck barnacles, lobster |
| Shipping Coverage | Nationwide 24-48h | Mainly local/regional coverage area |
| Physical Store | Yes, Mercat del Ninot (Barcelona) | Online only |
| Blog and Educational Content | 150+ articles: recipes, desalting guides, comparisons | Basic content |
| Gourmet Gifts | Packs of anchovies, caviar, preserve assortments | Not specialized |
| Horeca Product | Yes, professional formats and large orders | Mainly end consumer |
Cod: the big difference
If your purchase includes cod, the difference between the two options is abysmal. It's not a matter of better or worse; it's that they play in different leagues in this category.
At Bacalalo, you can order thick Icelandic cod loins perfect for the oven, cheeks for a memorable pil pil, tripe for an unforgettable stew, or maw with its natural gelatin that thickens any sauce. These are cuts you simply won't find in a generalist online fishmonger. Each piece is hand-selected, guaranteeing uniform size and consistent quality order after order.
Furthermore, professionally desalted cod is a product that changes the experience of cooking cod. Instead of waiting 24-48 hours with water changes, you receive cod with the exact salt point, ready for the pan or oven. It's the perfect solution for those who want to prepare recipes with desalted cod without complications or uncertainty in the result.
And it's not just a matter of catalog. It's also a matter of knowledge. When you ask Bacalalo which cut is best for baked cod, for a brandade, or for a traditional stew, the answer comes from 35 years of experience serving demanding professional and amateur cooks. That personalized advice is a value that doesn't appear in the product description but makes all the difference.
Logistics models: cured vs. fresh
Understanding why each model works requires understanding the nature of the product being shipped. Fresh fish and cured or preserved products have radically different logistical needs, and each imposes its own rules.
PescoAndGo's fresh model requires a continuous and uninterrupted cold chain from the fish market to the customer's door. Every hour that passes since capture is an hour of shelf life consumed. This requires working with own fleets or ultra-fast courier services, high-capacity refrigerated packaging, and tight delivery windows. The result is an excellent experience in nearby areas, but with clear limitations in geographical reach and delivery times.
Bacalalo's cured and preserved model operates with a different logic. Salted cod has a shelf life of weeks or months. A can of Cantabrian anchovies, a year or more. A jar of pasteurized caviar, several months refrigerated. This allows for more flexible logistics: shipping in insulated packaging with refrigerant gel, transport by standard courier in 24-48 hours, and zero stress for the customer regarding the exact delivery time.
Each model has its own logic and audience. The fresh model solves the weekly grocery shopping for households that want variety and immediate freshness. The cured and premium model solves the specific purchase for those seeking a particular product with the highest possible quality. Understanding this helps avoid comparing apples to oranges and choose the right store for each occasion.
Shipping, coverage, and logistics
Logistics is another important differentiating factor, this time from the practical perspective of the buyer.
PescoAndGo needs an impeccable cold chain to deliver fresh fish in optimal conditions. This limits its radius of action and requires very fast deliveries. It is ideal if you are within its coverage area and want fresh fish of the day. The model works especially well in large cities where the density of orders justifies the necessary logistics infrastructure.
Bacalalo works with products that, by nature, are more resistant to transport: salted cod, preserves, vacuum-packed caviar. This allows for nationwide shipping with insulated packaging, without the quality being affected. A salted cod loin arrives just as perfectly in Barcelona as in Cadiz, in Madrid as in Bilbao. There is no penalty for distance.
Furthermore, cured and preserved products are much more tolerant to variations in the delivery chain. If the delivery person arrives two hours later than expected, salted cod suffers no alteration. This logistical peace of mind translates into fewer incidents, fewer returns, and a more predictable shopping experience for the customer.
User experience and technology
Both stores have opted for online sales, but the browsing and purchasing experience reflects distinct philosophies.
PescoAndGo opts for a fresh marketplace-like interface, where the catalog changes daily depending on what's available at the fish market. This creates a dynamic experience, almost like walking through the market, but it also means that a product you saw yesterday might not be there today. For someone looking for something specific, this can be frustrating.
Bacalalo operates on Shopify with a stable catalog organized into over 30 thematic collections. Each product has its permanent listing with a detailed description, origin information, preparation suggestions, and exact weight. The blog complements the experience with over 150 articles including step-by-step recipes, desalting guides, and product comparisons.
The educational content is a real differentiator. Many customers come to Bacalalo looking for a recipe or a guide and end up buying because the information they find gives them confidence in the product and in who is behind it. An article on how to make bacalao al pil pil that explains which cut to use, what thickness is ideal, and why desalting matters has a value that goes beyond SEO: it builds a relationship of trust with the buyer.
Regarding payment methods, both stores offer the usual options: card, PayPal, and in Bacalalo's case, also Bizum and other local gateways. The checkout experience is smooth in both cases.
Price comparison and perceived value
Comparing prices between two such distinct models requires nuance. It makes no sense to compare a kilo of fresh hake from PescoAndGo with a kilo of salted cod from Bacalalo, because they are products with completely different value chains. However, we can compare the general value proposition of each store:
| Aspect | Bacalalo | PescoAndGo |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | Medium-high to premium (cod, caviar, anchovies) | Medium (fresh market fish) |
| Shipping Cost | Free shipping above purchase threshold | Variable depending on area and minimum order |
| Quality-Price Ratio in its Category | High: specialization allows selection of the best product by origin | Competitive: market prices without intermediaries |
| Yield per kg | High: salted cod yields 30-40% more than fresh when rehydrated | Standard: fresh weight includes usual shrinkage |
| Cost per serving | Competitive when calculated per serving | Variable depending on species and season |
| Food Waste | Very low: cured and preserved products do not expire quickly | Higher: fresh fish must be consumed within 1-2 days |
| Value as a Gift | High: gourmet packs with premium presentation | Low: fresh is not practical for gifting |
One point that many buyers overlook is the actual yield of salted cod. When rehydrated during desalting, one kilo of salted cod yields approximately 1.3-1.4 kg of product ready to cook. This means that the cost per serving is more competitive than it initially appears. When you add that the product doesn't expire in two days and you can use it at your own pace, the economic equation clearly favors cured over fresh for certain recipes.
Guarantee and return policy
The return policy for online food is a delicate issue. Fresh products have a very short claim window, and the causes of deterioration can be difficult to attribute: was it transport, packaging, ambient temperature, or the time the package waited at the door? With fresh products, any incident results in a total loss of the product.
Bacalalo has a structural advantage in this regard. By working with cured, preserved, and vacuum-packed products, transport incidents are extremely rare. Salted cod does not lose quality if the package arrives an hour late. A can of anchovies does not spoil due to a temperature variation in the truck. This translates into a very low rate of logistical incidents and a simpler return policy: if there is a problem with the product, it is resolved with replacement or refund without complications.
PescoAndGo, due to the nature of its product, has to manage a higher volume of incidents related to the cold chain. This is not a defect in its model, but an inherent characteristic of online fresh product sales. Platforms that handle this aspect well usually offer quick refunds when the customer reports a problem, but the experience of receiving spoiled fish is difficult to compensate with money alone.
For the buyer, the conclusion is practical: if you value the peace of mind that your order will always arrive in perfect condition regardless of the time or day of delivery, Bacalalo's cured and preserved products offer that guarantee naturally.
Who each store is for
PescoAndGo is for you if...
- You need fresh fish for today or tomorrow
- You live within their delivery area and can receive the order within the time window
- You are looking for weekly variety: hake today, shrimp tomorrow, sea bass the day after
- You value the convenience of fresh delivery without going to the market
- You prefer a catalog that changes daily with market products
Bacalalo is for you if...
- You are looking for quality cod with a specific cut for a particular recipe
- You want premium Cantabrian anchovies or caviar with full traceability
- You need shipping to anywhere in Spain without geographical restrictions
- You value the experience of a specialist with 35 years of history
- You want artisanal gourmet preserves to keep your pantry well-stocked
- You are preparing a special recipe and need the exact product with advice included
- You are looking for a gourmet gift that travels well and makes an impression
The reality is that many customers combine both stores: PescoAndGo for weekly fresh fish purchases when they are in the coverage area, and Bacalalo for when they want premium cod, selected anchovies, or a gourmet gift. It is not an exclusive choice, but a complementary one. Each store addresses a different need, and having both on your radar ensures all bases are covered.
Frequently asked questions
Does PescoAndGo sell salted or desalted cod?
PescoAndGo focuses on fresh market fish, so it may occasionally have fresh cod depending on availability, but it does not offer salted cod in different cuts or professionally desalted cod with controlled salt levels. For these categories, a specialized cod store like Bacalalo is the right choice, as it offers more than eight different cuts with origins from Iceland and Norway. The difference in catalog depth is especially relevant if you are looking for cod cheeks, tripe, maw, or other specialist cuts that require a supplier with experience in cod selection.
Which one has better prices in its category?
It completely depends on the product you are looking for. PescoAndGo can be very competitive in fresh market fish, as it works with a short supply chain from the boat. Bacalalo offers excellent value for money in salted and desalted cod, because its specialization allows it to negotiate directly with the best suppliers from Iceland and Norway. It's important to consider that salted cod yields 30-40% more when rehydrated, which reduces the real cost per serving compared to what the dry price per kilo suggests.
Can I buy from PescoAndGo from anywhere in Spain?
PescoAndGo has a more limited delivery radius than a cured product store, as the logistical demands of fresh fish impose geographical restrictions and tight delivery windows. Before placing your first order, it is advisable to verify that your postal code is within its coverage area. If you live outside that area and are looking for premium seafood products, Bacalalo ships nationwide in 24-48 hours with insulated packaging, without geographical limitations or distance penalties.
Does Bacalalo sell fresh fish or seafood?
No. Bacalalo specializes in cod (salted, desalted, smoked), Cantabrian anchovies, premium caviar, gourmet preserves, and related products. Its strength lies in the depth of its catalog within these categories, not in its breadth. This means that within cod, you will find more variety of cuts, origins, and formats than anywhere else, but you will not find fresh hake or shrimp. It is a deliberate business decision that allows it to maintain the level of specialization and advice that defines the brand.
Which is better for a gourmet gift?
For a gourmet gift, Bacalalo clearly has more options: packs of premium Cantabrian anchovies, luxury-presented caviar, assortments of artisanal preserves, and selected cod. These are products that present well, travel without problems to any point in Spain, and have a high perceived value. Fresh fish, due to its perishable nature, is not practical as a gift unless the recipient is waiting for it at home, which eliminates the element of surprise.
Can recurring orders be placed at both stores?
Both stores allow easy reordering from your customer account. In Bacalalo's case, by working with long-shelf-life products (preserves, salted cod, anchovies), it is common for customers to place orders every 3-6 weeks to keep their pantry stocked without rushing. PescoAndGo, due to its daily fresh model, lends itself more to weekly or bi-weekly orders. The recurring purchase pattern is different because the product's shelf life is different, and that is perfectly logical.
What guarantees does each store offer if the product arrives in poor condition?
Both stores typically offer a refund or replacement if there is a verifiable problem with the product. However, the frequency of incidents varies greatly. Bacalalo's cured and preserved products are resistant to transport and temperature variations, resulting in an extremely low rate of logistical issues. Fresh fish is more sensitive to any incident in the cold chain, so fresh product platforms tend to handle a higher volume of claims. In both cases, documenting with photos upon receiving the order is the best practice if you detect any anomaly.
Which one has more educational content on how to cook the product?
Bacalalo publishes an extensive blog with over 150 articles that include step-by-step recipes, desalting guides, product comparisons, rankings of anchovy brands, and educational content on how to select and prepare each product. From how to desalt cod at home to rankings of the best Cantabrian anchovies, the content is designed for customers to buy with informed decisions. PescoAndGo offers more basic content focused on product descriptions and specific tips.
Can I shop at both stores at once for different needs?
Absolutely, and in fact, that's what many customers do. The most common combination is to use PescoAndGo for weekly fresh fish purchases when within its coverage area, and turn to Bacalalo when quality cod is needed for a specific recipe, anchovies for a celebration, or a gourmet gift with shipping to any point in Spain. They are complementary models, not direct competitors, and alternating between them is the smartest way to cover all your seafood needs.
Which store is better for hotels or restaurants?
For hotels and restaurants, Bacalalo has a more consolidated offering thanks to its professional formats, the possibility of placing large orders with adapted conditions, and the stability of a catalog that does not depend on daily market availability. A restaurant that needs cod cheeks every week requires a reliable supplier with consistent product, and that is exactly what a specialist with 35 years of experience serving the professional channel offers. PescoAndGo can be useful for restaurants that work with a variable menu based on market availability, but its fast delivery model is more geared towards the end consumer.
Related Guides
- Ranking of online cod stores in Spain
- Online cod stores: Perelló, La Casa del Bacalao and more
- Where to buy cod online with home delivery
- Spanish gourmet preserves: tradition and flavor
- Bacalao al pil pil: Basque recipe step by step
- Recipes with desalted cod: quick and easy ideas
- Cantabrian anchovies: best brands, prices, and ranking
- How to desalt cod quickly and well at home
Explore our complete catalog of premium salted cod, Cantabrian anchovies, and caviar from the best roe in the world at Bacalalo.
