Vietnamese pangasius firm Vinh Hoan won the top prize at the fourth annual Seafood Excellence Asia awards for its Cured Panga Croquette.
According to event organizer Diversified, the Seafood Excellence Asia awards recognize product leaders in the Asian seafood market, with nominees representing seafood products from around the world released over the past 18 months. Seafood Expo Asia announced nominees for the competition in August, and the award was handed out 2 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore. [Editor’s note: Diversified owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
According to Vinh Hoan, the Cured Panga Croquette includes Aquaculture Stewardship Council-certified salt-cured pangasius “using traditional methods,” which is then folded into a creamy mashed potato and wrapped in a “golden, crispy shell.” The product can be cooked from frozen in a deep fryer, oven, or air fryer.
“I am very happy to win this award,” Vinh Hoan Chief Sales Officer Hoa Truong told SeafoodSource. “Usually, we try to do something decadent and fancy, but this year, we stuck with our core product offering, and that is the [strategy] that worked.”
Singapore-based Lam Kee Fisheries, which took home the top prize in last year’s competition for its Snow Treasures Miso-Marinated Cod Cube, secured runner-up honors this time around for its Japanese Curry Cod Cube.
Meanwhile, Hai Sia Seafood – also based in Singapore – finished as second runner-up with its Kami No Ebi prawn product.
The finalists were judged live at Seafood Expo Asia by a panel of high-volume seafood buyers and industry experts, including representatives from Bidfood Malaysia, Thailand-based Central Food Wholesales, Philippines-based Shangri-La Group, Cold Storage & Giant Singapore, and Korean retailer Emart. The products were evaluated on eating experience, packaging, market potential, originality, and convenience.
Vinh Hoan’s Cured Panga Croquette and other products nominated for the Seafood Excellence Asia awards will be on display at Seafood Expo Asia in the Product Showcase at Stand #M12. They can also be viewed online on the event’s website.
