Unima Distribution of France and Vičiūnai Group of Spain won the top prizes in the 2023 Seafood Excellence Global Awards, given at Seafood Expo Global, held in Barcelona 25-27 April 2023.
The two winners were selected from a field of 39 finalists and were announced this evening at a special Seafood Excellence Global awards reception. The competition recognizes the best products exhibited at Seafood Expo Global.
Best Retail Product was presented to Vičiūnai for its entry Black Sepia Dumplings with Shrimp and Thai Broth Filling. The judges noted the high quality of the shrimp and the flavour of the broth, as well as the uniqueness of the product, and the attractive package design.
Unima won the prize for Best HoReCa (hotel/restaurant/catering) Product for its Organic Body-Peeled Madagascar Shrimp. The judges remarked upon the high quality of this shrimp, its excellent texture and complex, intense delicately iodised flavour.
In addition to the grand prizes, the judges also gave five special awards:
- Clearwater Seafoods & Macduff Shellfish of the United Kingdom were presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Health & Nutrition for their Wild-caught Whole Hebridean Langoustines
- Unima was also awarded the Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Convenience for its Organic Body-Peeled Madagascar Shrimp.
- Vega Salmon A/S of Denmark was presented the Seafood Excellence Global special award for Retail Packaging for its Cold-smoked Salmon in Sustainable Packaging
- The Seafood Excellence Global special award for Innovation was given to Hot-Smoked Salmon with Cheese and Pine Nuts “Kinziukas” also from Vičiūnai Group
- A line of mussel soups from Vilsund Blue of Denmark won the Seafood Excellence Global special prize for Seafood Product Line
The judges for the 2023 Seafood Excellence Global competition were Debby Verheyen, Retail Business Partner for Seafood and Frozen Food for Ahold Delhaize in Belgium; Daniel Diaz, Seafood Purchasing Manager for La Sirena stores in Spain; Nicholas Baroux, Seafood Director for Supermarché Match in France; Brian Legg, Senior Director of Procurement for HelloFresh International in Germany; and Paula Merrigan, Head of Purchasing for Snowfox Group in the United Kingdom. Verheyen served as chair of the jury.
Seafood Excellence Global Awards finalists are 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.
