Meet RUA: Award-Winning Granola from Dublin’s Chef-Founded Wellness Brand
When a chef of many years sets out to create wholesome treats that taste delicious, the result is something special:…
Kelpman Ocean Blends creates plant-based seaweed protein powders that harness the nutritional power of Wild Atlantic seaweed. These unique superfood blends combine Irish seaweed with premium plant proteins, delivering complete nutrition while supporting ocean conservation.
These aren’t your typical protein powders. Kelpman blends Wild Atlantic seaweed with hemp and pea protein to create something truly special. Each serving provides a complete amino acid profile that traditional plant-based proteins simply can’t match on their own, plus all 56 vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your body needs.
The secret lies in Irish seaweed species that are one-third protein. When combined with European pea protein, hemp protein, and chia seeds, you get a superfood powder that’s rich in Omega-3s, provides natural B12, and fights free radicals while helping control appetite.
David McGarrell’s journey to founding Kelpman Ocean Blends began with a shift in perspective that changed everything.
For years, David chased perfect waves across the Indo-Pacific. But gradually, what started as surf travel became something much more concerning. “I stopped seeing palm trees and smiles and started noticing bulldozers, and polluted lineups,” David explains. “I could no longer separate myself from the aimless destruction and started to feel like the cause.”
The change was heartbreaking. Where once there were huts and villagers eating off folded palm leaves, coca cola bottles and nightclubs had taken over. Even venturing to the most remote islands revealed the same pattern: ports and harbors choking with pollution and diesel fumes, all in the name of tourism development.
This realisation sent David in a completely different direction. Instead of continuing to work building sites in Western Australia and flying off to surf destinations for six months each year, he made a life-changing decision: return to university to study Environmental Science and Coastal Management.
David’s studies led him back to Ireland and an internship in Belmullet, where he discovered the incredible potential of seaweed. Here, he learned about seaweed’s role as a solution for capturing atmospheric carbon while also cleaning nitrogen from water – a double environmental win.
“From this moment on I became obsessed with developing my own seaweed farm,” David recalls. While waiting years for licensing applications, he developed the idea of Kelpman Ocean Blends as an alternative way to increase consumption of Irish seaweed.
The breakthrough came when David realised that if he could change people’s perception about seaweed taste, they would be won over by its immense nutritional value. With the plant-based protein market taking off, he had his lightbulb moment: “Some Irish species of seaweed are ⅓ protein in composition… Has nobody thought of combining them within a plant-based supplement?”
The Wellness Pantry stocks Kelpman’s complete Flow and Perform range, featuring four distinct flavours that make sustainable nutrition both delicious and convenient. Choose from Smooth Cacao for chocolate lovers, Madagascan Vanilla for classic smoothie versatility, Wild Strawberry for a fruity boost, or Tropical Coconut for an island-inspired experience.
Each 35g serving delivers the complete nutritional power of Irish seaweed combined with premium European pea protein, hemp protein, and chia seeds. The blend is incredibly versatile – shake it, mix it, blend it, or sprinkle it into smoothies, morning oats, granola, acai bowls, or even bake with it.
The seaweed fills nutritional gaps that other plant proteins miss. It provides natural B12 and Omega-3s, plus all 56 vitamins and minerals your body needs. No land vegetable can match this nutritional profile.
Kelpman supports sustainable seaweed farming that helps marine biodiversity while capturing carbon from the atmosphere. But it’s more than just nutrition – David and his team live and breathe an ocean-inspired lifestyle, sharing stories of like-minded individuals who embody this passion for the natural environment.
Based in Bundoran, Kelpman Ocean Blends represents the perfect marriage of coastal lifestyle, environmental consciousness, and nutritional innovation. The brand embodies the sustainable values that resonate with The Wellness Pantry’s community.
Ready to experience the power of Wild Atlantic seaweed nutrition? Visit The Wellness Pantry to discover Kelpman Ocean Blends’ innovative protein supplements, or follow their ocean conservation journey on Instagram @kelpman_ocean_blends and Facebook @kelpmanoceanblend.
Kelpman Ocean Blends products are available at The Wellness Pantry, bringing sustainable ocean nutrition and environmental innovation to Bundoran’s wellness community.
