Why seaweed? What are the nutritional and environmental benefits of this resource?
Over 70% of Earth's surface is water, so it makes sense to look there for sustainable, scalable resources. Nori, the seaweed we use in our snacks, is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables on the planet. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, including iodine, and vitamins B12 and K, while being naturally low in calories. This makes seaweed-based snacks a great alternative to other salty, crunchy snacks like tortilla chips.
From an environmental perspective, seaweed is the ultimate regenerative crop. It requires no fresh water, land, or chemicals to gow, captures CO2 to help deacidify oceans, and collectively absorbs more CO2 than the Amazon rainforest. Economically, seaweed supports coastal communities and provides a winter harvest, keeping these areas active year-round when other industries slow down.
What is Gimme Seaweed’s vision for seaweed snacking?
Gimme Seaweed was founded 12 years ago by Annie Chun and Steve Broad, serial entrepreneurs who pioneered the organic, non-GMO seaweed standard in partnership with the USDA.
Our vision is to cultivate the miracle of seaweed into crave-worthy foods, and our mission is to share the unexpected magic of seaweed with everyone, from ages 2 to 102.
We are a small, privately-owned company that focuses exclusively on seaweed products, taking great pride in maintaining high quality and innovation in this category.
Can you take us through the journey from sea to snack?
Our seaweed is grown off the southwest coast of South Korea in protected waters. It grows on nets suspended near the water's surface, which are flipped periodically for even growth and nutrient exposure. Seaweed grows incredibly fast; it can be harvested as early as 45 days after seeding, with multiple harvests from the same seed every 10 days for three or four cycles.
Harvested seaweed is collected using mechanical harvesters, then transported to drying facilities where it is triple-rinsed, tested for heavy metals, and thoroughly minced. After filtering out foreign materials, it is converted into square sheets, stacked into bundles, and sent to our manufacturing partners. There, the sheets are lightly oiled, roasted to crisp perfection, and seasoned. It is a simple process, with snacks containing just seaweed, organic oil, and sea salt or seasonings.
Where else in the world has the conditions to support commercial seaweed production?
Seaweed grows globally, with thousands of varieties. While some, like the sargassum in the Caribbean, are not edible, others such as kombu, grow in North America. Nori, the variety we use, requires cold water and is primarily grown in South Korea, with some production in Japan and emerging efforts in China. Other types of edible seaweed, like kelp, are gaining popularity in the U.S., but nori stands out with its buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture that works perfectly for our snacks.
Does seaweed absorb toxins or microplastics, and how does Gimme Seaweed ensure its products are safe?
Seaweed absorbs nutrients, but it may also take in trace amounts of heavy metals, similar to other ocean-based foods like fish and shellfish. These amounts are minimal and not considered a health concern. To minimize risks, we grow our seaweed in clean, protected waters and test our sources regularly. We select areas further from coastal pollution and reject any batches with elevated heavy metal levels. Every finished product is batch-tested to ensure safety. While the risks are low, we take these precautions seriously to deliver safe and high-quality seaweed snacks.
What is Gimme Seaweed doing on packaging to ensure it is not harming the environment?
We are committed to reducing packaging wherever possible. In 2022, we launched our Trayless Seaweed Snacks, the first of their kind, which consumers have embraced. We are expanding this line with new flavors like Chili Lime and Korean Barbecue and offering different pack sizes to encourage adoption of this eco-friendly format. However, we still offer the original tray version for those who prefer its functionality.
In addition to reducing packaging, we have partnered with Repurpose Global, a leader in certified plastic recovery, to fight global plastic pollution. Every pack of Gimme Seaweed sold supports ocean-bound plastic recovery, with a focus on high-impact areas like Indonesia.
How does Gimme Seaweed balance innovation with the cultural heritage of seaweed?
Seaweed has been a staple in many cultures for centuries, primarily as a side dish or ingredient. In Asian markets, it is now beginning to gain popularity as a snack. In the U.S., Gimme introduced seaweed in a snack format, revolutionizing how American consumers interact with the product. While snacking remains the primary consumption occasion here, we are also working to educate people on using seaweed in recipes, inspired by traditional practices.
For instance, we have developed recipes and showcased seaweed’s culinary potential, as seen in features like Gourmet’s home cook kit. We expect to see a blend of traditions emerge, with Asian markets leaning more into snacking and U.S. consumers expanding their use of seaweed as both a snack and an ingredient. Without giving too much away, I can share that our test kitchen is exploring bold, authentic Japanese and Korean-inspired flavor profiles, with an emphasis on bright, citrus-based flavors that pair beautifully with seaweed’s natural umami. Early tests have been promising, and we are excited about what is coming next.
Where is the biggest demand for Gimme Seaweed?
Initially, demand was strongest in coastal cities, but we are now seeing significant growth across the U.S., even in regions we did not expect. From a consumer perspective, kids love seaweed, and parents appreciate its nutritional benefits, like providing a serving of veggies per 10-gram pack. It is a healthy, kid-friendly snack that makes conscious snacking easier for families.
We are also seeing increased interest from young adults looking to replace traditional salty snacks like chips with something healthier. Seaweed satisfies that salty, crunchy craving while being nutritious and low-calorie, making it popular for afternoon snacking or as a guilt-free alternative.
How much seaweed do you eat every day?
A lot. I have been known to crush four or five packs a day—easily!