CFE International and MacKnight Smoked Foods won top honors in the 2010 Seafood Excellence Awards new-product competition. MacKnight’s Smoked Salmon Bacon won in the foodservice category and CFE’s Cedar Bay Planked Salmon in Applewood Orange Ginger flavor won in the retail category.
The companies received the news at an awards ceremony and wine reception at 3:30 p.m. yesterday on the show floor.
The two products were judged yesterday from a field of 11 finalists that were announced two weeks ago by show producer Diversified Business Communications.
“We’re really, really pleased,” said Stephen Nicholson, VP at Miami-based MacKnight. “We were quietly confident we’d hit on a unique product.”
MacKnight won the retail award in last year’s competition for its Smoked Salmon Bagel Slice.
“It’s exciting to have won in both categories now. We really focus on trying to cover all spectrums of the smoked salmon business and are trying to create new products that are unique and value-added to our customer base,” said Steven Fishman, who does sales and marketing for MacKnight.
CFE’s planked salmon was introduced by Cedar Bay in Nova Scotia, Canada, less than a year ago.
“We had just started to look to launch the product here in the United States. I couldn’t think of a better way to hit the ground running,” said Raphael Santaella, assistant VP-sales and marketing for CFE International.
“We’ve had amazing reactions from retailers,” said Douglas Park of Cedar Bay Grilling Co. in Blandford, Nova Scotia, Canada. “[The product has] done extremely well.”
The products were judged on packaging, convenience, marketability, nutrition, originality and overall eating experience.
The competition judges were: Bonnie Volpe, seafood buyer, B.J.’s Wholesale Club, Rick Cox, senior manager, seafood at Sysco, and Dan Enos, executive chef and operating partner at The Oceanaire Seafood Room in Boston.
The winners were chosen from a field of 11 finalists, which included: Splash! Coated and Crusted Swai from Clear Springs Foods; Rotisserie-Style Cod from Fishery Products International; Lobster Tempura from Shucks Maine Lobster; Mandarin Orange Salmon Sea Choice Steamer Entrée from Ocean Beauty Seafoods; Caribbean Style Cod Fillets from Trident Seafoods; Boil in the Bag Shrimp Entrees from Wholey; Low Fat Grilled Tuscan Herb Tilapia from Good Harbor Fillet; Gluten Free Crispy Battered Halibut from Starfish; and Shrimp Risotto Stuffed Sole from High Liner Sea Cuisine.
