Parcs Saint Kerber and Algolesko, both of France, won the top prizes in the 2024 Seafood Excellence Global awards at Seafood Expo Global (SEG), in Barcelona, with the winners were announced at a special Seafood Excellence Global awards reception.
The competition recognises the best products exhibited at Seafood Expo Global.
Top award for Best Retail Product was presented to Parcs Saint Kerber for its entry, Oysters Trio Saint Kerber. This product features four each of three of the company’s oysters in a single retail box. The first is Saint Kerber’s European flat oyster, with a briny flavour balanced with a slightly bitter finish. The second is the Tsarkaya, a special Pacific oyster with a subtle finish, and the third is the firm premium Saint Kerber with the typical briny flavour of the Bay of Mont Saint Michel.
Judges noted the high quality and flavour of the oysters, and the well-designed, traditional wooden box with the fresh oysters packed in seaweed.
Algolesko won the grand prize for Best HORECA (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Wakame Pickles. A combination of fresh crunchy wakame seaweed with citrus juice and zest, salt, and vinegar, this product provides a unique new way for chefs to offer seaweed on the menu.
The seaweed is sustainably farmed by the company on 350 hectares in a Natura 2000 protected area.
Judges noted the distinctive flavour of the product and its versatility on the menu, including as an accompaniment with oysters, other shellfish, and finfish; as a crudité; or on its own as an appetiser.
In addition to the grand prizes, the judges also gave four special awards:
- Phillips Foods Inc of the United States was awarded the Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Convenience for its Signature Lobster Cakes
- Multi X SA of Chile was presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its Latitude 45 Smoked Salmon Candy Bites
- The Seafood Excellence Global award for Innovation was given to Lucky Bag from Vinh Hoan Corporation of Vietnam
- Vega Salmon A/S of Denmark won the Seafood Excellence Global award for Best Seafood Product Line for its SalmonChef line of hot smoked salmon with international flavours
The winners of the 2024 Seafood Excellence Global awards were chosen from a field of 40 finalists representing 15 countries around the globe.
Judging 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. Pauly served as chair of the jury.
Judges’ scores were verified by the accounting firm of PwC.
