France wins big at this year's Seafood Excellence Awards

Innovation and excellence in seafood products were once again recognised in Barcelona by the 2024 Seafood Excellence Global awards, held at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona this week.

French companies Parcs Saint Kerber and Algolesko clinched the top awards of Best Retail Product and Best HORECA Product, respectively.

The event showcased 40 finalists from 15 countries, judged on criteria including taste, convenience, and innovation by a panel of experts from across Europe.

Parcs Saint Kerber was awarded Best Retail Product for its Oysters Trio Saint Kerber, praised for the high quality and flavour of the oysters, as well as the unique packaging which featres a traditional wooden box lined with seaweed. The product features three different oyster types: the European flat oyster, the Tsarkaya Pacific oyster, and the "Saint Kerber" oyster from the Bay of Mont Saint Michel.

Meanwhile, Algolesko earned accolades for its Wakame Pickles, noted for their distinctive flavor and versatility in culinary applications, securing the award for Best HORECA Product. Algolesko's product combines crunchy wakame seaweed with citrus juice and zest, salt, and vinegar. The seaweed is sustainably farmed by the company in a Natura 2000 protected area.

Four further special awards were also presented this year. Phillips Foods, Inc.'s Signature Lobster Cakes won the award for Convenience, and Multi X S.A.'s Latitude 45 Smoked Salmon Candy Bites scooped the award for Retail Packaging.

Meanwhile, Lucky Bag by Vinh Hoan Corporation received the top accolade for Innovation, and Vega Salmon A/S won Best Seafood Product Line for its SalmonChef® line of hot smoked salmon.

All of the winning products were distinguished for their creativity, marketability, and consumer appeal, the judges noted.

The judges for the 2024 Seafood Excellence Global Awards competition were Juergen Pauly, Manager of Seafood Purchasing with Globus stores in Germany; Raul Cervera, Seafood Purchasing Manager for La Sirena stores in Spain; Jonathan Rotge, Seafood Purchasing Manager for CORA stores in France; and Paula Merrigan, Head of Purchasing for Snowfox Group in the United Kingdom. Mr. Pauly also served as chair 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 PwC.