North Coast Seafoods’ Seaweed Kelp Balls Launch in Sysco’s Summer 2025 Cutting Edge Solutions (CES) Program

North Coast Seafoods, a leading supplier of sustainably sourced seafood, has officially launched its Seaweed Kelp Balls in Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions (CES) Program for Summer 2025. Sysco Corporation, the world’s largest food distributor, annually curates this program to highlight innovative products designed to elevate menus, alleviate kitchen stress and streamline operations.

Seaweed Kelp Balls are the world’s only plant-based product of their kind, made with Kelp – a renewable, zero-input, superfood sea vegetable that fights climate change while improving ocean health.

North Coast’s Seaweed Kelp Balls join an exclusive group of groundbreaking food innovators, recognized for their ability to transform culinary experiences. The Seaweed Kelp Balls were selected based on these key attributes:

• Sustainable & Renewable: Kelp is a zero-input crop that grows in kelp forests in the ocean. It requires no land, fresh water, pesticides or fertilizers to grow, making it one of the most sustainable and regenerative ingredients on the planet. By featuring kelp on your menu, you’re supporting the planet while offering a truly innovative dish.
• Good for the Ocean & Climate: Kelp is regenerative by nature. While it grows, it purifies the ocean around it and fights climate change by absorbing excess carbon and nitrogen, improving water quality and locally mitigating the effects of ocean acidification within the water it grows in.
• Allergen-Free: Free from gluten, dairy, soy and all major allergens, Seaweed Kelp Balls are an ideal meat-free protein option, catering to a diverse array of dietary preferences and needs.
• Plant-Based: Made with the sea vegetable kelp, Seaweed Kelp Balls are naturally and truly plant-based – not a meat analog designed to mimic meat.
• Superior Texture & Flavor: A chef-crafted recipe that delivers a bright, briny, umami-rich flavor with a perfectly crisp finish. Each bite is full of texture, flavor and integrity – real food, not mystery mush, offering an unforgettable eating experience.
• Effortless Prep: Par-cooked and ready to heat from frozen in under 10 minutes, they are designed for quick, effortless preparation, minimizing labor and food waste. They can be air-fried, baked, sautéed or deep-fried, offering flexibility in cooking methods.
• Nutrient-Dense Superfood: Kelp is extremely rich in vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that many American diets lack. It’s rich in iodine, magnesium, potassium, iron, Vitamin A + B12, probiotics and antioxidants – and even contains more calcium per oz. than milk

North Coast Seafoods’ Seaweed Kelp Balls are a game-changing addition to Sysco’s 2025 CES lineup, shifting seaweed from condiments, sauces and side dishes to the “center of the plate” as a high-quality, healthy plant-based protein option.

Proudly made with USA-grown Kelp, these Seaweed Kelp Balls are free of dyes, additives and food coloring. By utilizing domestically grown seaweed, they support US coastal economies and American fishing families by diversifying their incomes in the face of climate change and helping to strengthen and safeguard our vital coastal communities.

“The wow factor lies in the incredible story of kelp – a truly game-changing ingredient that delivers a win from every perspective. The kelp meatball is delicious, but the story behind kelp makes it unforgettable,” said Andrew Wilkinson, Chef Director of Research and Development and innovator of the product. “This product is disrupting the plant-based category by harnessing this renewable vegetable from the sea. Kelp is one of the only ingredients on the planet that doesn’t take from the environment—it actively restores it. By helping to rebuild and preserve the ocean, combating climate change, promoting health and supporting local coastal communities, kelp embodies sustainability at its finest.”

North Coast Seafoods’ Seaweed Kelp Balls are now available nationwide for purchase through Sysco, offering chefs and foodservice institutions an innovative, sustainable and one-of-a-kind plant-based menu option to their menus.

For more information on North Coast Seafoods and their products, visit their website here.