From Purpose‑Driven Vision to Data‑Backed Growth

Co‑founded by Robert Mock, Ocean’s Halo has always been driven by purpose. With a deep commitment to sustainability, the brand made a bold early move—becoming the first in the category to remove plastic trays from its seaweed snack packaging. The decision resonated strongly with both consumers and retailers, reinforcing Ocean’s Halo’s values-led brand positioning.

But as the business scaled, intuition alone was no longer enough. The team needed credible, granular data to validate decisions, tell a compelling retail story, and confidently fuel the next phase of growth. 

“NIQ Byzzer has been a game changer for our organization, it  gave us the credibility and comprehensive data we needed to tell our story and make smarter decisions.”

Winning at Walmart with Shopper-Led Innovation

One of Ocean’s Halo’s most compelling growth stories is its collaboration with Walmart. Using NIQ data, the team identified emerging flavor trends and partnered with Walmart to launch exclusive seaweed snack SKUs tailored to shopper demand.

The results were immediate and measurable. These new items quickly became the fastest‑growing SKUs in the entire seaweed snack category.

NIQ data also enabled Ocean’s Halo to track post‑launch performance with precision, particularly after removing the plastic tray.

“We saw we were selling at least twice as many bags without the tray,” Mock explains. “That data gave us the confidence to scale the change—and it ultimately influenced competitors to do the same.”

Beyond product performance, Ocean’s Halo also used NIQ insights to support Walmart at a category level, leveraging country‑of‑origin data to help assess tariff exposure, positioning the brand as a trusted category advisor, not just a supplier.

Pricing and Promotions Optimized for Profitable ROI

With NIQ Activate, Ocean’s Halo gained advanced visibility into pricing, promotions, and elasticity, allowing the team to model scenarios and optimize decisions before going to market.

By understanding how price changes impacted both volume and dollars, the brand was able to fuel profitable growth without sacrificing accessibility.

“We’re not just growing in dollars, we’re growing in units, and we can prove it,” says Mock.

Store‑level performance data and unit velocity tracking have also helped Ocean’s Halo clearly demonstrate ROI to retailers and investors, reinforcing its position as a high‑velocity, high‑value brand within the category.

Using Data to Scale Sustainability and Innovation

For Ocean’s Halo, data is a way to stay true to the brand’s purpose. NIQ insights have empowered the team to reduce plastic waste, support environmental initiatives through 1% for the Planet, and confidently bring new products, like fried rice rolls, to market.

“NIQ helps us be smarter. That translates into stronger partnerships with retailers and better outcomes for consumers. And the fact that these tools are accessible for brands like ours makes the impact even greater.”