Seaweed goes mainstream

The dulse flakes are produced by Mara Seaweeed, who announced a deal with the national retial chain yesterday.

“Launching as a branded product in Marks and Spencer is a huge step for us and shows that seaweed is now firmly on the British menu. Mara has moved from novel to mainstream,” says Mara’s CEO, Fiona Houston.   Edinburgh-based Mara was also selected this spring to be one of three finalists in this year's BBC Food & Farming Awards as Best Food Producer. “This couldn’t have come at a better time and we are thrilled that Mara is finally being recognised for its vision,” says Fiona.   In 2014 Slow Food UK named Dulse a ‘Forgotten Food’. Mara’s listing at Marks and Spencer can reintroduce this ancient superfood with a unique taste, to a wider audience. “Dulsing” (harvesting and eating dulse) has been a tradition around the coast of the British Isles for centuries. Mara are reviving this tradition by hand harvesting in Scottish waters. “Mara Seaweed taps into a trend we see growing through 2015, as shoppers start to understand how seaweed is used and search it out to use when baking, or to season dishes,” says Melissa Webb, M&S product development manager.    Marks and Spencer also chose two other British producers using seaweed in their products, Stags Bakeries and Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company, revealing a growing market for seaweed.