Northern Irish seaweed processor launches kelp pesto for Asian restaurants in Britain
Ocean Veg Ireland Ltd has been established on Rathlin Island, a Northern Irish off-shore island, to develop ready- to-use sea vegetable products for use in the Asian export market using local seaweed under the new 'Islander' brand '. The first Islander branded product, Kelp Pesto, has just been launched.
The small company, formed by local fishermen with expert advice, is processing and packaging kelp and sugar kelp harvested from the island's coastline, near Ballycastle in county Antrim, for sushi and 'food fusion' restaurants in Britain and further afield. Rathlin has a population of around 100 people.
Kate Burns, a director of Ocean Veg Ireland Ltd, an experienced business consultant who is assisting the recently formed company, said: "Our objective is to develop a 'fresh' processing solution for kelp for the sea veg market in the UK, mainland Europe and hopefully further afield. We are already supplying ready to use kelp for miso soup and a Kelp Pesto. Feedback on both products from restaurants has been immensely encouraging.
"Currently all seaweeds for the Asian food market in Europe are dried and imported from Asia. The end product we envisage is vacuum packs of blanched kelp for sale in both retail and catering markets throughout Europe.
"The development of seaweed for the sushi, Asian and fusion food market is new to Ireland. Most seaweed harvesting in Ireland concentrates on dulse, carrageenan and seaweeds for cosmetics and soap industry. All are dried.
"Our research has identified a significant and growing market opportunity particularly in Great Britain, where the market for sushi is the largest food growth area."
Ocean Veg Ireland is a new business started by Rathlin Island Seafoods, established in 2012 by local fishermen Benji and Liam McFaul to process and trade crab meat, fresh lobster and other seafood to the retail and catering industry as well as supplying box schemes.
They also catch and process mackerel and Pollack. With advice and assistance from Mrs Burns, a business consultant who has a wealth of experience in seaweed products, they carried out market research and began a pilot project supplying sugar kelp to the award-winning Rathlin Manor House restaurant.
The development could provide a significant boost to the Rathlin economy and a further excellent example of how innovation vouchers are encouraging and assisting entrepreneurial activity within our strategically important food processing industry.
Rathlin Island is situated off the north east coast of Ireland, and is the only inhabited offshore island in Northern Ireland. Because of its geographical position, Rathlin has long had associations with both Ireland and Scotland.
The island has County Antrimto the south, the Inishowenpeninsula in County Donegal to the west, the island of Islayin the Hebrides to the north, and the Mull of Kintyrein mainland Scotland to the east. The island is renowned for its sea bird breeding colonies and has a long and eventful history, and some of the most breath-taking scenery anywhere in Ireland or Britain.