Researcher Sees Bright Market Future For Seaweed Products

Mintel is expecting big things for seaweed-flavored foods and beverages, in Europe at least, based on what’s been happening in the past five years. The researcher found that seaweed-flavored food and drink launches more than doubled in the period from 2011 to 2015, making Europe the “second most innovative” global region – after Asia/Pacific – when it comes to such launches. Seaweed remains a niche product in the Western world, but Mintel says it “it could become the next superfood,” thanks to the fact it is rich in natural vitamins, minerals, and plant-based protein. Fifty-eight percent of German consumers have either tried or would like to try algae as a protein source. Forty-four percent of Britons felt the same.