Last updated: 3 July, 2024 @ 18:15
The world’s largest seafood expo came to a close this week with French and Spanish businesses scooping the top awards.
Seafood Expo Global 2022 (SEG), held in Barcelona, attracts more than 29,100 buyers, suppliers, media and other seafood professionals from over 150 countries.
The best products exhibited at the show were recognised at a gala Seafood Excellence Global awards ceremony, which brings the show to a close.
‘Nice flavour and texture’
Pescanova España of Spain won the grand prize for Best Retail Product for its ‘Salmon Noodles’.
“The noodles are sold chilled, and can be mixed with your favourite sauce or consumers can try the easy chef-developed recipe on the back of the package,” said SEG.
The judges noted the ‘nice flavour and texture of the pasta, its fresh, natural appearance, and the attractive package design’.
‘Exotic mix’
Meanwhile, France-based GlobeXplore won the coveted Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its ‘Seaweed Spread – Yuzu and Ginger’.
The product is described as a ‘subtle and exotic mix of sea lettuce, ginger and yuzu’, and designed to accompany both vegetables and meat dishes.
“Completely prepared and ready to use, it can also be the inspiration for chefs to create their own original seafood recipes,” said SEG.
The judges particularly noted the ‘unique, yet delicious flavour with definite afternotes of yuzu and ginger’.
Special awards
In addition to the grand prizes, judges also handed out five special awards.
Balfegó & Balfegó SL of Spain won the SEG special award for Health & Nutrition for its ‘Balfegó Bluefin Tuna Loin’. The product is ‘aimed at top chefs around the world’.
The SEG award for Convenience went to JC Mackintosh of Spain for its ‘Smoked Wild-Caught Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio’.
The product is said to allow the consumer to enjoy ‘a top-quality smoked tuna dish with zero preparation’.
Double Dutch delight
Krijn Verwijs Yerseke B.V. of the Netherlands won the SEG special award for Retail Packaging for its product ‘Bangkok – Mussels in Fresh Sauce with Lemongrass and Ginger’.
The packaging was described as including ‘high quality photography in an attractive design with comprehensive consumer information’. The packaging is also 100% recyclable.
It was double Dutch award delight for the company, with it also winning the SEG award for Best Seafood Product Line for its ‘BAP-certified and organic mussels in fresh sauces’.
It was also double delight for Pescanova España’s ‘Salmon Noodles’, after it won the SEG special award for Innovation.
The product was described as ‘representing a whole new market category of pastas made with fish’.
UK seafood sector
The winners of the awards were chosen from a field of 38 finalists representing 13 countries.
The SEG 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.
The UK seafood sector was well-represented at the event, with a wide range of seafood showcased.