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Unima Distribution of France and Vičiūnai Group of Spain won the top prizes in the 2023 Seafood Excellence Global Awards at Seafood Expo Global, the world’s largest seafood trade event. The winners were selected from a field of 39 finalists and were announced at a special Seafood Excellence Global awards reception. The competition that recognizes the best products exhibited at Seafood Expo Global, gave this year the award to two products processed from aquaculture shrimp.
The top award for Best Retail Product was presented to Vičiūnai Group for its Black Sepia Dumplings with Shrimp and Thai Broth Filling. This product wraps shrimp, spinach, and a delicately spiced coconut broth in a stunning black dumpling wrapper that is colored and flavored with squid ink.
The dumplings provide retailers with an exclusive offering that will attract consumers looking for a new seafood experience. The judges noted high quality of the shrimp and the flavor of the broth, as well as the uniqueness of the product, and the attractive package design.
Unima Distribution, for its part, won the grand prize for Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Organic Body-Peeled Madagascar Shrimp. These shrimps are carefully selected during growth and raised in a low-density eco-model ensuring animal well-being, environmental protection and community development in Mahajama Bay in northwest Madagascar.
The winning variety is presented head- and tail-on with the body peeled. The judges noted the high quality of this shrimp, its excellent texture and complex, intense delicately iodized flavor.
Five special awards
Clearwater Seafoods & Macduff Shellfish of the United Kingdom were presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Health & Nutrition for their Wild-caught Whole Hebridean Langoustines. Aimed at top chefs around the world, they provide numerous nutrients including high quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and a host of vitamins and minerals including iodine, phosphorus, copper and vitamin B12.
Unima Distribution was also awarded the Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Convenience for its Organic Body-Peeled Madagascar Shrimp. A recipient of the French Label Rouge designation, this shrimp provides the chef with added convenience by peeling the body but leaving the head and tail intact. The result is a beautiful presentation of head-on shrimp without much work.
Vega Salmon of Denmark was presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its Cold-smoked Salmon in Sustainable Packaging. This premium cold-smoked salmon can help retailers and consumers meet their goals to reduce waste and recycle. The package is made with 50% less plastic and offers a clear and concise waste separation guide on the pack to ensure proper recycling.
The Seafood Excellence Global special award for Innovation was given to Hot-Smoked Salmon with Cheese and Pine Nuts Kinziukas also from Vičiūnai Group. Based on one of Lithuania’s best-known traditional smoked foods, this winning product substitutes salmon for meat and combines it with hard cheese and pine nuts before shaping and smoking it.
The product is wrapped with twine and packaged in an attractive retail box. It can be enjoyed as a snack and also used as an ingredient in other dishes.
A line of mussel soups from Vilsund Blue of Denmark won the Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Seafood Product Line. Created to increase the consumption of mussels among Danish consumers, the line features three flavors, Thai Green Curry, Spicy Paprika and Moules Frites. This line was recognized by the judges for the overall quality of the product, the consumer appeal of the flavors, and the recyclable, shelf-stable packaging.
39 finalists from 16 countries
The winners of the 2023 Seafood Excellence Global Awards were chosen from a field of 39 finalists representing 16 countries around the globe. The winners and finalists were on display in the Galleria at Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global until April 27.
The judges for the 2023 Seafood Excellence Global competition were Debby Verheyen, Retail Business Partner for Seafood and Frozen Food for Ahold Delhaize in Belgium; Daniel Díaz, Seafood Purchasing Manager for La Sirena stores in Spain; Nicholas Baroux, Seafood Director for Supermarché Match in France; Brian Legg, Senior Director of Procurement for HelloFresh International in Germany; and Paula Merrigan, Head of Purchasing for Snowfox Group in the United Kingdom. Verheyen served as chair of the jury.
The Seafood Excellence Global Awards finalists were judged on taste and overall eating experience, packaging, marketability, convenience, nutritional value, and innovation. The judges’ scores were verified by the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers.