Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America announced 12 finalists have been selected for the 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards.
The 12 products were selected from a list of market-ready products that are either launching or have been introduced to the North American market in the last 18 months, event organizer Diversified said. The 12 products will now compete in the finals during the 44th edition of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, running from 15 to 17 March in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., with the winners of the competition being announced on 15 March at 3:30 p.m. in the Wave Makers’ Zone. [Editor's note: Diversified also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
The finalists for the 2026 awards were selected from a pool of 108 entries in the New Product Showcase and will compete for two awards: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product. Three industry experts will judge the products based on multiple categories, including appropriateness to the market, taste, packaging, and originality.
All 108 products will be on display in the New Product Showcase, and the finalists will be displayed in the Wave Makers’ Zone.
The finalists in the foodservice category are:
- King & Prince Seafood – Mrs. Friday’s Honey Butter Biscuit Wild Alaska Pollock 2-3 oz
- Trident Seafoods – Crispy Battered Sauceable Nuggets
The finalists in the retail category are:
- Angel Oak Smokehouse – Angel Oak Hot Smoked Salmon Ravioli
- Aquamar – Aquamar Cacio e Pepe Risotto cakes with shrimp
- Cox’s Wholesale Seafood – Wild Caught American Shrimp, Kickin Tikka Masala
- DOM International Limited – Dom Reserve Salmon Sashimi Singles
- Echo Falls Seafood – Echo Falls Smoked Norwegian Atlantic Salmon Party Slices
- Icy Waters – The Good Fish Co. – Coconut Margarita Haddock
- Multi X – Latitude 45 Ceviche
- St. James Smokehouse – SAINT - Fruit Wood Limoncello Smoked Salmon
- Thunder’s Catch – Alaska Fisherman’s Cioppino
The Seafood Excellence Awards is the North American extension of the Seafood Excellence Global Awards competition, held at Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global in Barcelona, Spain, and the Seafood Excellence Asia Awards competition, held at Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia in Singapore.
