Seaweed, Seafood Tout Health Appeal, Flavor

As consumer preferences lean further into healthier, globally inspired, and plant-based foods, an increasing number of seaweed and algae products are having a moment, along with a variety of innovative seafood products that tap into current flavor trends.

The global seaweed market reached $7.5 billion in 2024 and was expected to total $18.1 billion by 2035 thanks to an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 9.5%, according to Allied Market Research. The most popular seaweed products are nori, wakame, and kombu—all mainstays in Japanese cuisine. In addition, seaweed spice blends such as furikake are also trending. Seaweed-centric companies, including Gimme Seaweed and Barnacle Foods, make products ranging from shortbread cookies formulated with kelp to roasted seaweed snacks.

Maine-based Ocean’s Balance offers dulse, Irish moss, kombu, nori, sea moss, and more. Founder and CEO Mitch Lench says the company pivoted from its original emphasis on CPG products to focus on functional seaweed ingredients for manufacturers.

“We still offer nutritional powders, dried seaweed, and seasonings to consumers, but where we’re seeing the most growth is in the adoption of seaweed as an ingredient by mid- to large-sized human and pet food manufacturers,” Lench says.

“There’s a lot of buzz linked to the nutritional and environmental benefits of mariculture, especially seaweed farming,” says Markos Scheer, founder and CEO of Seagrove Kelp Co., an Alaska-based producer of ribbon kelp, bull kelp, and sugar kelp. Scheer adds that when it comes to market acceptance, the company relies, in part, on chefs and restaurateurs “to give consumers a taste of seaweed to help them better understand how delicious these relatively unknown products can be.”

One of the more intriguing applications for algae is “spherification,” a technique associated with molecular gastronomy. This process encapsulates foods in a fine alginate coating, transforming them into flavorful edible “pearls.” Made by GlobeXplore under the Christine Le Tennier brand, Flavor Pearls are available in both sweet (fig, passion fruit, yuzu, mango) and savory (balsamic, ponzu, mignonette) varieties and complement everything from cocktails and appetizers to main courses and desserts.

Seafood Brings the Heat

Bold, globally inspired flavors are driving innovation in the seafood category, with creative product developers tapping into the heightened popularity of ingredients that display complex heat, including sriracha, harissa, hatch chili, habanero, and wasabi. Chili crisp, tajin, hot honey, and dragon fruit are also on the list of trendy flavors, according to insights firm Datassential.

When Acme Smoked Fish introduced its Sweet Heat Smoked Salmon seasoned with Mike’s Hot Honey, sales exceeded expectations, the company reports. Handy Seafood offers panko breadcrumb–coated Hot Honey Shrimp, which it touts as “air fryer ready.” Authentic regional flavors, like Chesapeake Bay area staple Old Bay spice mix, which Handy Seafood features on crab cake SKUs, resonate with consumers around the United States, notes Maureen Johnson, the company’s marketing director.

Similarly, influenced by Hawaii’s immigrant population from Japan, China, Korea, and the Philippines, the flavor profiles found in Annasea Hawaiian-style poke, a dish typically made with fresh ahi tuna, give a broader audience access to varieties that feature shoyu, wasabi, and sriracha chili sauce.

Recognizing the enduring importance of convenience to busy consumers, the Marine Harvest brand offers pre-seasoned Lemon Dill, Garlic Herb, and Greek Isle tilapia fillets. Other seafood products include dollops of butter blended with equally distinctive spice combinations to enhance on-shelf appeal.

“Our seafood customers are ordering 0.5-ounce and 1-ounce dollops to use in their ready-to-bake products,” reports Abbey Arellano, brand manager for Epicurean Butter. “Roasted Garlic Herb is our best seller, Cajun is having a moment, and spicier options including sriracha, hot honey, and blackened seasoning are all trending.”ft