© Stevie Dennis, NAAS Foods
The facility marks a significant milestone in BDK’s core purpose of unlocking the full potential of seaweed as a regenerative, scalable ingredient for the modern food system. The company produces high-value food ingredients through proprietary processing methods it has developed, designed to meet the needs of food manufacturers, foodservice operators, and consumer brands. Planning to source seaweed from the pristine waters of the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska and British Columbia, the company is building a value chain for a promising and sustainable crop from the ocean.
“Seaweed as an ingredient in a huge variety of food products has enormous, untapped potential,” said chief executive officer Travis Bettinson, in a press release. “Our processes increase the yield from a single harvest by six times, create easy to use functionalities, and derive valuable textures and flavours from seaweeds. All of this creates a platform of products and ingredients that aligns with the food industry at a larger scale. We’re excited to launch this facility, supported by a combination of private investment and grand funding, and bring products to market that deliver real value to our customers.”
The company’s consumer product, Seacharrones, is a seaweed-based snack currently in the market. With the addition of the new facility and new financing, BDK is now strategically focused on higher-volume B2B channels, including ingredient supply, foodservice partnerships, private label, and white-label production for established brands. The initial product line includes a range of innovative seaweed-based ingredients designed for broad application in sauces, marinades, soups, spice blends as well as snacks, garnishes, and textures on salads, soups, sandwiches, protein bowls, and grain bowls.
“Building demand for profitable seaweed products is at the core of everything we are doing,” said executive chair Jon Kroman. “This facility allows us to take a major step forward in delivering scalable product lines that work for both our customers and the broader food system, while creating value for an ocean crop that requires no fresh water or fertiliser and provides valuable environmental benefits in the marine environment.”
BDK aims to integrate seaweed into scaled food production – delivering environmental benefits alongside commercial value.
