New retail packs to encourage edible seaweed sales

Irish Seaweeds, the Northern Irish producer of range of sea vegetables, has launched a new retail pack in response to the growing demand for such products.

The company, which is based in Belfast, has been producing seaweed products since 1990 for a range of commercial and industrial customers including foodservice, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It has developed significant on-line retail business for its seaweeds from international customers.

Irish Seaweeds is providing Dulse (Palmaria Palmata) in 15g packs at 80p RRP harvested from around the shores of Strangford Lough, the largest inlet in the British Isles, a Marine Conservation Zone and an EU Special Area of Conservation.

Gus Hayes, founder and managing director of Irish Seaweeds, says: "Seaweed has been growing in popularity over recent years as consumers have come to appreciate the benefits of sea vegetables in terms of minerals and vitamins.

"The packs make it more convenient for shoppers, especially living beyond coastlines, to buy Dulse in particular."

Dulse is regarded as a good source of minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium as well as vitamins compared with other vegetables, contains all trace elements, and has a high protein content.

Dulse is also widely used in Ireland in a range of foods including bread and butter. It can be eaten uncooked as a snack and as an ingredient for meals.

Apart from Dulse, the family-owned and managed company harvests a broad range of sea vegetables including Carragen, Kelp, Sea Lettuce, Atlantic Wakame and Sea Spaghetti.

The company works with leading universities on research projects for cultivating and drying edible sea vegetables. It has created Europe's first seaweed farm, on Strangford Lough and has also created its own seaweed skin care range.