Our Story
Today, Mara is an international success and the UK’s most innovative seaweed brand. We’re proud to have grown from two mums’ enthusiasm for Scotland’s natural larder into experts in seaweed nutrition and flavour. Since 2011 we’ve been pioneering developments in harvesting, sourcing and processing seaweed.
From the playground…
In 2003, co-founders Fiona Houston and Xa Milne met outside their children’s school in Edinburgh. Having grown up in the countryside, they wondered how to connect the next generation to Scotland's edible resources. Fiona and Xa began foraging with their kids, and found themselves exploring our native seaweeds and how to cook them.
In 2008, Fiona and Xa shared their knowledge in a book, Seaweed and Eat It – A Family Foraging and Cooking Adventure. In 2016, Xa authored a follow-up book, The Seaweed Cookbook.
…to the seashore
Fiona and Xa had discovered hidden treasure: seaweed was Scotland’s forgotten natural superfood, full of essential nutrients and complex flavours. They saw the opportunity to bring seaweed back into our diets, with a new brand of seasonings. Mara’s flakes are designed to be familiar like herbs and spices, making the health benefits of seaweed accessible to a wider audience.
…to the supermarket shelf
The Celtic Sea Spice Company, founded in 2011, gave rise to the Mara Seaweed brand. Launched in 2013, its mission is to ‘Nourish Body and Soul’ with pure, Scottish seaweed seasonings. Team Mara have worked hard to establish the UK’s first sea-to-shelf production facility in Edinburgh, enabling distribution to supermarkets nationwide and export to the US and beyond.
Join the seaweed revolution
Today, Mara Seaweed is multi-award winning and loved by celebrities, Michelin star chefs and home cooks alike. Isn’t it time you tried it?
