Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) April 26, 2016
Kagerer & Co. of Munich, Germany and Freshpack of San Martin les Boulogne, France won the top prizes in the Seafood Excellence Global awards at Seafood Expo Global, the world’s largest and most prestigious seafood event. The winners were selected from a field of 39 finalists and were announced this evening at a special Seafood Excellence Global awards reception. The competition, formerly known as the Seafood Prix d’Elite, recognizes the best products exhibited at Seafood Expo Global.
The top award for best retail product was given to Kagerer & Co. for its entry, Dim Sum - Quick ‘n’ Easy. This combination of three types of dumplings – har kao, shao mai and gyoza can be quickly steamed or microwaved and served with their own dipping sauce. The judges noted the distinctive flavor of each dumpling and the tasty fillings with whole shrimp, as well as the attractive package and convenient microwaveable tray.
Freshpack won the grand prize for best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) product for its high pressure shelled raw king crab meat. Raw king crab legs are completely extracted from their shells using this technology, then individually vacuum packed and frozen. The product gives the restaurant operator the opportunity to offer dishes with a taste and texture similar to those made with live king crab that has been freshly cooked. The judges commented on the flavor and juiciness of the product and the convenience of the individual leg packs.
In addition to the grand prize, the judges also gave five special awards:
L’huître Noisette from SAS Kermaree in Blainville sur Mer, France was presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Health & Nutrition. These diploid oysters are grown in the open sea on the west coast of Normandy, and are naturally rich in iodine and other important nutrients. They are small in size to attract consumers who might be less likely to try medium sized oysters and are packed in an attractive wooden box with a rope handle.
The Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Convenience was awarded to Marine Harvest of Boulogne sur Mer, France for its product, Mini Gourmandises. This refined and delicious appetizer is a combination of a creamy smoked salmon mousse and oak smoked diced salmon. The individual appetizers are packed in a special black serving tray with angled sections that both protects and displays the product.
La Famille Boutrais of Saint Coulomb, France was awarded the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Innovation for its product Gold Special Oysters “Ostra Regal.” These unique oysters are grown for a minimum of 36 months and feature deeply cupped, gold flecked shells, full of delicious meat. A traceability certificate guaranteeing the origin and spawning date of the oysters is enclosed in each box.
Marine Harvest France was also presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its product ASC Salmon Traiteur in Double Protection Packaging. The salmon fillet is first skin-packed with a gas-permeable but liquid proof film. Then an additional film is applied and modified atmosphere is added between the two films. This advanced packaging technique allows the retailer to display the product vertically without leaking. The salmon also retains moisture and has a longer shelf life.
Delpierre of Saint Aignan de Grand-Lieu, France was presented with the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Seafood Product Line for its line of fresh fillets preserved with high pressure pasteurization. The line includes seven different varieties – bar, dorade royal, barbet cinnabare, cabillaud, dos de cabillaud, sardines, and maquereaux – that are skin-packed without preservatives. A special pasteurization technique allows for a shelf life of up to three weeks.
The winners of the 2016 Seafood Excellence Global awards were chosen from a field of 39 finalists representing 15 countries. The winners and finalists are on display in the Patio, Stand P-4619 - 4635 at Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global, which runs now through April 28.
The judges for the 2016 Seafood Excellence Global competition were Peter Joyner, Food Development Director for Elior in the United Kingdom; Patrick Louis, Frozen Food Buyer for Auchan stores in Europe; Filip Keersmaekers, Seafood Category Manager for Makro & Metro Cash & Carry in Belgium; Diane Camp, Development Chef with Reynold’s Catering Supply in the United Kingdom; and Daniel Pape, Seafood Buyer for Kaufland stores in Germany. Mr. Joyner served as chairman of the jury.
The Seafood Excellence Global 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 Ernst & Young.
About Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global
Formerly named the European Seafood Exposition and Seafood Processing Europe, Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global form the world’s largest seafood trade event. Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attend the annual, three-day exposition in Brussels, Belgium, to meet, network and do business. Attending buyers represent importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting suppliers offer the newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services available in the seafood market. SeafoodSource.com is the exposition’s official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified Communications, the international leader in seafood-industry expositions and media. http://www.seafoodexpo.com/global
About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, digital products, publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine and business management. The company's global seafood portfolio of expositions and media includes Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, Seafood Expo Asia and SeafoodSource.com. Diversified Communications, in partnership with SeaWeb, also produces SeaWeb Seafood Summit, the world’s premier seafood conference on sustainability. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified has divisions in the Eastern United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Thailand and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: http://www.divcom.com.
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Christine Pedersen
Diversified Communications
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Sofie Parthoens
Two Cents
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