The anticipation is mounting. In just a matter of hours, the winners of the 2011 Seafood Prix d’Elite new products competition will be crowned during an awards ceremony on Day 1 of the 19th annual European Seafood Exposition.
And if history is any indication, the United Kingdom, Belgium or Germany will be represented among this year’s victors.
In addition to the two grand prizes — best new retail product and best new foodservice product — five special awards will be presented for originality, convenience, health and nutrition, retail packaging and seafood product line, for a total of seven awards. Over the past four competitions, a product from a UK-based company has captured six of the 28 awards, followed by Germany with five and Spain and Belgium with four each.
This year, three of the four countries (excluding Spain) are generously represented among the field of 38 finalists (a total of 14 countries are represented). In fact, 11 of the products are from a UK-based company and nine are from a Belgium-based company — that’s just over half of the total number of finalists. The UK and Belgium are represented more than any other country in this year’s competition, so there’s a strong chance that representatives from at least one of the two countries will be accepting an award on stage in Hall 2 of the Parc des Expositions in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday.
But no one will know for sure until a panel of distinguished judges makes its decision. SeafoodSource will be the first to report the winners, so stay right here for coverage of the 11th annual Seafood Prix d’Elite.
Once again, here’s the list of the 38 finalists, announced in mid-March:
• Codfarmers ASA for its Strøm Fresh Cod Back Loin (Norway)
• Coldwater Seafood for its Bistro Bouillabaisse (UK)
• Coldwater Seafood for its King Prawn & Scallop Risotto (UK)
• Coldwater Seafood for its Scallop, Smoked Bacon & Vintage Farmhouse Cheddar Pot (UK)
• Agustson a/s & Marz Seafood a/s for its Hot Smoked Tilapia (Denamrk)
• Dish Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. for its Prawn Toffee Mélange (India)
• Macrae Edinburgh Part of The Seafood Co. for its Laspang Souchong Tea Smoked Salmon (UK)
• Seachill (Icelandic Group) for its The Saucy Fish Co. Smoked Haddock with Davidstwow Cheddar & Chive Sauce Foil Bake Bag (UK)
• N Parlevliet N.V. for its Smoked Matjes Royal (Belgium)
• Marine Harvest for its Barbecue Range Marinated Sardines (Belgium)
• Marine Harvest for its Cod Façon Tournedos (Belgium)
• Marine Harvest for its Smoked Salmon Timbale (Belgium)
• Marine Harvest for its Mini-Clafoutis with Crab and Curry (Belgium)
• Jens Møller Products ApS for its Fruit-Art® Blackcurrant (Denmark)
• Lyons Seafoods Ltd. for its Lyons Smoked Haddock & Mozzarella Fishcakes (UK)
• Lyons Seafoods Ltd. for its Lyons Seafoods Trio of Prawns (UK)
• Salm Invest for its Sandwich-Sliced Smoked Salmon with Toasts (Belgium)
• Kenmare Select for its Organic Smoked Salmon with Seaweed (Ireland)
• Seachill (Icelandic Group) for its The Saucy Fish Co. Saucy Centre Fishcakes (UK)
• Norway Prawns AS for its Lofoten Lyngen Peeled Prawns (Norway)
• Heiploeg Group for its Prawn Antipasti (Belgium)
• Larsen Danish Seafood A/S for its Larsen Catering for healthy out-of-home living (Germany)
• Pacific Andes International Holdings Ltd. For its Alaska Pollock Lime Pesto Papillote (Hong Kong)
• Pacific Andes International Holdings Ltd. for its Alaska Pollock Goujon Coconut Encrusted with Mango Chili Dip Sauce (Hong Kong)
• Highland Farms Ltd. for its Atlantic Salmon Infusions (UK)
• Vichiunai Europe NV for its Dino Power Snack (Belgium)
• Halieutis for its Tambaqui Ribs (France)
• Gilco BVBA for its Fruit and Fish (Belgium)
• JC David for its Smoked Haddock Soup (France)
• JC David for its Raw Smoked Gambas (France)
• Bull Meat/Sea Bull for its Het vis saucijsenbroodje (Netherlands)
• The Big Prawn Co. for its Cocktail Multipack (UK)
• Vinh Hoan Corp. for its Provocake (Vietnam)
• Vinh Hoan Corp. for its Deliburg (Vietnam)
• Triad Fisheries Ltd. for its Smoked Coho Salmon (United States)
• Prinz Gourmetline Srl for its Herring Carpaccio (Italy)
• Guyader Gastronomie for its Albacore Tuna Mini-Sausages (France)
• Loch Duart for its Honey & Thyme Smoked Salmon (UK)
