What a year 2018 has been!
We want to recap on the busy year here at Seaweed & Co., with us launching new brands Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful, and our PureSea range, winning awards, attending huge trade shows, and even moving to beautiful new offices!
Exporter of the Year
In January the FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards highlighted the best small businesses from the length and breadth of the country, offering national recognition for those who have made the biggest impression over the last 12 months. We were awarded FSB exporter of the year area winner! Being recognised for our expansion with PureSea distributors in Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Israel and South Korea.
Launch of Weed & Wonderful at NOPE
We exhibited Natural & Organic Products at Excel London to officially launch ‘Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful‘ in April. Taking our beautiful range of seaweed infused oils and seaweed supplements to the show, with the display looking great it definitely turned a few heads and caught the eye…or maybe it was our slightly disruptive name!
A visit from Ricky Wilson (Kaiser Chiefs front man and friend of Doctor Seaweed) to announce the winner of our survey competition lead to the singer serving samples to passers by! A definite favourite was our Smoked Seaweed Infused Oil with many ‘wow’ reactions (definitely because of the oil, not Ricky…).
Whilst at the show, Doctor Seaweed was shortlisted with the chance to pitch in front of a panel of judges from health store giant, Holland & Barrett. With only 2 minutes to impress judges and some tough questions from the CEO, Doctor Seaweed managed to win the pitch! Gaining a foot in the door to the major retailer eventually lead to our supplements attaining a spot on the shelves! Find them in H&B in store and online now!
PureSea goodness – now multi-national!
Our PureSea range of naturally innovative seaweed ingredients saw some outstanding applications, and in some really impressive brands and products across Marks & Spencers, Waitrose, PepsiCo and many more besides. With the PureSea Protect selected as a finalist in the prestigious NutraIngredients Awards at VItafoods in May this year. A really amazing year, with much more to come…
A Wonderful Sea View
April brought a change of offices! Our new HQ is the Space @ offices in the lovely Whitley Bay. With a beautiful sea view and the beach just two minutes away it’s great for Captain Barnacles …well maybe when it’s not blowing a gail in winter!
Speciality & Fine Foods Fair
SFFF held at London’s Kensington Olympia was in September. This year’s show was host to 10,005 industry professionals and over 700 innovative and varied products. With 64% of independent retailers, buyers, and caterers relying on trade fairs to find innovations in the food and drink world – we were there getting everyone to love seaweed! Our oils were used by chef, Steve Walpole, in demonstrations and got a hugely positive response from samplers.
We were able to try lots of delicious products, and especially loved Seed and Bean chocolate! Think we came back from this show a little heavier than we went!
Sunday Brunch
Yes! Sunday Brunch! We sent some of our Weed & Wonderful Oils to celebrity chef Simon Rimmer which he so loved that he then decided to use on the show. Cooking a beautiful fish dish for celebrity guests. Co-presenter, Tim Lovejoy, was slightly surprised when Simon brought out our seaweed oil – but everyone loved them and quickly realised seaweed isn’t weird – it’s wonderful!
Other great PR achievements included features in The Metro, the Sunday Express, the Grocer, the Caterer and much much much more…
Best Brand 2018
Doctor Seaweed had a fab time attending the UK Packaging Awards with Family (and friends) our design agency. Especially when we were awarded Best Branding Project of 2018! Take a look for yourself at the Weed & Wonderful range.
Please get in touch – we love talking all things seaweed!