Kelsey Blackwell, Senior Food Editor

February 18, 2014

4 Slides

Ten years ago, snacking on seaweed served only avant-garde eaters. For everyone else, it was more like Seaweed? You can eat that stuff? Today, the category is growing in leaps and bounds. What’s changed? As the obesity epidemic continues to surge, more consumers are taking a second look at what they put in their carts (thank you, Drs. Weil and Oz). But give up comfort foods altogether? That’s asking too much. This translates to big opportunities for seaweed, which answers the salty-snack call but with a fraction of the sodium and fat of traditional potato chips. At the same time, it delivers other nutritional benefits such as vitamins A, B and C, beta-carotene and iodine.

Look for brands that give flaky squares a makeover with organic formulations and additional ingredients that supply more crunch and sturdier textures. To initiate the unfamiliar to this category, brands also are opting for all-American flavors like Cheddar Cheese and Honey Dijon. What better way to kick back in front of the tube than with a bag of barbecue-flavored seaweed? 

About the Author(s)

Kelsey Blackwell

Senior Food Editor, Natural Foods Merchandiser

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