Waitrose & Partners has declared seaweed the must-have ingredient of 2021, with sales of the product up 23% last year when compared to 2019 and 71% higher when compared to 2018.
Seaweed is fast becoming a store cupboard staple for the public due to its versatility.
Customers are also looking for inspiration on Waitrose.com, with searches for ‘seaweed’ up 141% compared last year and searches for ‘crispy seaweed’ up 18%, possibly linked to an uptake in home cooking due to the implementation of lockdowns.
Health Benefits
“Seaweed is a source of iodine, which supports thyroid and cognitive function,” said Anna Daniels of the British Dietetic Association, speaking to Waitrose Health Magazine.
“Its rich nutrient profile includes carbohydrate, fibre, and protein, as well as iron; B vitamins; manganese; copper; vitamins A, C, E and K; zinc; potassium and magnesium. Vegans find it useful as a source of amino acids, calcium and omega-3 essential fatty acids”.
Ingredients
Cooks Ingredients buyer at Waitrose, Jenna Doran-Twyford, commented, “Seaweed is an incredibly versatile ingredient and it’s great that customers are becoming more aware of its uses." Doran-Twyford also points to customers becoming more "adventurous in the kitchen".
This observation ties into the recent Waitrose Food and Drink Report, which highlighted the overall influence of Asian ingredients, with store cupboard essentials from Asia the fastest growing of the Cooks’ Ingredients range.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Conor Farrelly Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
