With the 42nd edition of the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America trade show set to kick off on Sunday in Boston, frozen products are once again leading contenders for Seafood Excellence Awards. Eleven finalists, eight of which are frozen, have been selected from 70 entries to compete for two top prizes.
Each year, companies exhibiting at the three-day trade fair are invited to submit new products to be evaluated by a panel of seafood industry experts who judge their uniqueness and appropriateness to the market, taste profile, packaging, market potential, convenience, nutritional value and originality. All products in contention must be launching or have been introduced to the North American market during the past 18 months.
The 2024 finalists were selected from 70 entries in the expo’s New Product Showcase that will now compete for two awards: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product. Winners will be announced on March 10 at 3 PM EST in the Wave Makers’ Zone of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, followed by a reception.
Foodservice Award Contenders
The four finalists in the foodservice category are:
• Premium Shrimp Sliders (pictured above) from Social Kitchens Professional/SK Food Brands. The product is made with solid chunks of shrimp. No binders, fillers, scraps or gluten. Show goers can see and sample it at Booth #2621.
• Handy Seafood’s Spicy Breaded Jalapeño Shrimp are generously sized, tail-on torpedo shrimp coated in crispy jalapeño breading. Each crunchy bite packs hot pepper heat balanced with the natural sweetness of shrimp. Check it out the Salisbury, Maryland-based supplier’s latest offering at Booth #823.
• Butterflied Yellow Snapper (seen below) from Fort Lauderdale, Florida-headquartered Netuno USA (Booth #613) delivers a unique take on a fish that is mainly served whole. The fillet’s packaging process ensures that its tail is intact, making for an attractive presentation while providing value to restaurant operators wanting to keep snapper on their menus.
• Seaweed, Ginger and Yuzu Culinary Aids distributed by New York-based Finesaler, LLC. The spreads contain organic ingredients selected for their nutritional and gustatory qualities: Breton seaweed harvested by hand in the Iroise Marine Natural Park and tasty flavors, fruits, and spices. Check out the product at Booth #1219.
Retail Award Rivals
There are seven finalists in the retail category, as follows:
• Sweet Heat Cornmeal Crunch North Atlantic Pollock from Channel Fish Processing of Braintree, Massachusetts (pictured below). “When honey sriracha meets elote, magic happens,” say the supplier, adding that the sustainably sourced fish serves up sweet and spicy with a little smoke and a hearty corn crunch. Low in saturated fats, it’s mild but flavorful with a tender yet firm texture that offers a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids. Visit Booth #2859 to see and sample the product.
• Echo Falls Smoked Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Nuggets from Seattle, Washington-headquartered Ocean Beauty Seafoods. Featuring salmon sourced from Bristol Bay waters, the bite-size nuggets are honey-cured and applewood-smoked to achieve a sweet/savory flavor balance. They are promoted as “ideal for on-the-go outings such as hikes and road trips, or for elevating a seacuterie board for guests.” Visit Booth #1205 to see and sample the product.
• Miso Marinated Wild Alaska Black Cod (Sablefish) distributed in 12 oz bags by Edmonds, Washington-based Alaskan Leaders Seafoods. The wild caught fish is portioned and marinated in authentic Japanese miso. More information is available at Booth #1647.
• American Unagi Smoked Eel Fillet, distributed in 4 oz. packs, features glass eels harvested from the rivers of Maine. The fish are raised without added hormones or antibiotics and hot smoked in Maine using a traditional European recipe specifying oak and alder. Check it out at Booth #3444.
• Highland Farms Salmon Salami is an Atlantic Salmon product that has been air-dried for 14 days and cured over fragrant beechwood. The premium delicacy is promoted as embodying “a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and exceptional taste.” It can been seen and sampled at Booth #3457.
• Sole with Shrimp & Snow Crab Stuffing (pictured below) from East Coast Seafood of New Bedford, Massachusetts, is promoted as “a center of the plate shining star” that is rolled with MSC-certified sustainable snow crab stuffing. It serves up as a combination of flavorful chunky shoulder and leg snow crab meat accentuated with a blend of herbs, celery and additional flavorful ingredients. Check it out at Booth #705.
• Acme Lox in a Box is positioned as a “perfect snack on-the-go or whenever you need a delicious and sustaining snack throughout your busy day – and at a reasonable price!.” The new product features Brooklyn, New York-based Acme’s signature cold smoked salmon, packing in 12 grams of protein per serving. Each kit includes smoked salmon along with artisanal crackers, cream cheese (or avocado spread), and a convenient utensil. Visit Booth #2705 for more information.
