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SCOTLAND took two of the seven major trophies at the 2011 Seafood Prix d'Elite competition at the European International Seafood Exposition in Brussels last night.
But the top prize for the Best New Retail Product went to Vietnam for the first time, a country which is a growing force in fish and seafood. It won for its Provocake produced by the Vinh Hoan Corporation in Ho Chi Minh City. This innovative product features a fish cake of Pangasius, shrimp and mushrooms encircled with asparagus. In fact imaginative fish products seemed to prevail throughout the contest.
Macrae of Edinburgh, part of the Young's Seafood group, won the retail packaging section for its Laspang Souchong Tea Smoked Salmon. The Seafood Product prize went to Loch Duart from Lochcarnan in Scotland for its acclaimed smoked salmon.
In the Best Foodservice Product category, the prize was given to Halieutis of France for its product of Tambaqui Ribs. Tambaqui is a new species to the European market and is a cousin of the famous and feared Amazonian piranha fish and is now farmed in Brazil. The structure of the fish allows for a rib portion that is similar in shape and presentation to pork ribs. Halieutis tops these portions with a tasty barbecue marinade.
In the Originality section Gilco BVA of Belgium took top spot for its fruit and fish dish, while another Belgian firm, the Heiploeg Group, won the Convenience section for its prawn antipasta.
The Seafood Prix d'Elite competition recognises the year's best products developed for the European seafood market. All finalists’ products are evaluated by a distinguished jury of seafood buyers, chefs and industry experts, representing countries throughout Europe.
The judges scores are audited by the accounting firm of Ernst & Young. The products selected as finalists are prominently displayed in the Seafood Prix d’Elite stand where they will be viewed by a large audience with huge buying power.
Winners receive additional exposure throughout the year through special advertising and publicity, the use of the Seafood Prix d’Elite logo on their product and in their stands, as well as being featured on the event website.
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