The UK’s Big Prawn Company and Globe Export have taken away top honours at the 13th Seafood Prix d’Elite new products competition at this year’s European Seafood Exposition in Brussels.
The Big Prawn Company beat 42 other finalists to the award for its squid and apple black pudding with scallops and minted pea purée, a convenient ready to cook version of a posh British seafood dish.
The judges liked the quality of the ingredients, the well balanced flavour combinations and the originality of the packaging.
Meanwhile in the Foodservice category, the top prize was given to Globe Export for its fresh seaweed in sea water product. The line includes dulse, nori, wakame, sea lettuce and sea bean seaweeds, packed separately in seawater. The seawater can also be retained and used to flavour stocks and sauces. The judges noted the high quality of the seaweed, the differences in flavours offered by the five varieties and the growing potential for these types of products in Europe.
In addition to the two grand prizes, the judges also gave out five special awards. Anillas de Mar from Angulas Aguinaga of Irura, Spain, was awarded the Seafood Prix d’Elite special award for Convenience for their seafood rings which use Alaska pollock surimi and jumbo squid designed to replicate the texture and flavour of squid rings.
Médithau Marée of Marseillan, France, was presented with the Seafood Prix d’Elite special award for Retail Packaging for its Seven product. The product features seven top quality oysters packed in a vertical wooden box complete with a tasting kit, tablecloth and oyster knife.
Seven was also awarded the Seafood Prix d’Elite special prize for Health & Nutrition because oysters provide a good source of lean protein, natural taurine and beneficial trace elements.
Jens Møller Products of Heming, Denmark, was presented with the Seafood Prix d’Elite special award for Originality for its Fruit-art Passion Pearls in Cool Mint Vodka. A trendy cocktail option, the product combines passion fruit seaweed pearls in mint flavoured vodka packed in a 2cl tube.
Foodservice award winner, Globe Export, was also presented with the Seafood Prix d’Elite special award for Seafood Product Line.
The Seafood Prix d’Elite finalists were judged on taste and overall eating experience, packaging, marketability, convenience, nutritional value and originality.
