A UK seafood company has not one, not two - but SEVEN products in the finals of the 2013 European Seafood Exposition Prix d’Elite competition.
The Big Prawn Co, a North Norfolk shellfish firm based in the picturesque village of Melton Constable, is dominating this prestigious contest with an amazing product range.
There are 42 finalists this year from many countries including Canada, Norway, Vietnam and France. The UK has a total of nine finalists products. The products are selected from hundreds of international seafood dishes from around the world. For a business to get one entry is success enough, but seven is seen as quite outstanding.
Craig Harrison, sales director at Big Prawn, said everyone was delighted to have achieved such a showing. He said the company was committed to developing innovative products and the Prix d^Elite Competition was a good way of introducing them to the rest of the world. Two of the products (fish cakes) were already on general release while the others would be released in the light of their reception at Brussels. He said using locally sourced ingredients Big Prawn had developed concept products in the same way that motor manufacturers bring out concept cars for motor shows. Mr Harrison added that the company was currently undergoing a re-branding operation with new names like "Big and Juicy" and "Big and Tasty"
The show products are:- Baked Cromer Crab with Walsingham Cheese, Seafood Ice Cream, Squid and Apple Black Pudding and Minted Pea Puree, Squid and Apple Black Pudding on its own, Crayfish Risotto Cakes, Oeufs Drumkilbo and Paella Fishcakes. The two other UK entries are Selwyn Seafoods Ltd with its Selwyn^s Crispy Seaweed Snack and the Trangs Group with Vietnamese Style Coated Prawns.
The Seafood Prix d’Elite competition names the best new retail and foodservice seafood products of the year and also recognizes innovative seafood companies with special awards for health and nutrition, retail packaging, originality, convenience and seafood product line. The winners were chosen by a distinguished jury of seafood buyers, chefs and industry experts, representing countries throughout Europe.
The winners and finalists are prominently displayed in the Seafood Prix d’Elite stand at the European Seafood Exposition which is held in Brussels from April 23rd-25th and is expected to attract 25,000 visitors from 140 countries - the largest seafood attendance in the world. Past winners indicate that winning a Seafood Prix d’Elite award has led to greatly increased sales and recognition for their companies and products.
