Seafood Excellence Global Awards

Benefits for All Product Entries:

• All products entered will be displayed in the Seafood Excellence Global stand during the three-day exposition.
• Seafood Excellence Global competition and stand will be promoted in marketing pieces such as visitor brochure, advertising, press outreach.
• Promotion of Seafood Excellence Global competition and stand via social media.
• Promotion of Seafood Excellence Global competition and stand in the “Daily”, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global’s daily printed publication covering news at the event.

Benefits for Finalists:

• Finalists will receive special recognition in the Seafood Excellence Global stand
• Featured in a press release announcing the finalists, which will be distributed and pitched to industry and consumer media.
• Additional exposure of finalist’s products on the exposition’s website.
• Finalists to be announced via SeafoodSource.com and Seafood Expo events’ social media channels.
• Finalists to be announced in Day 1 of the “Daily”, the exposition’s daily printed publication covering news at the event.
• “Seafood Excellence Global Finalist” logo to be included with Exhibitors’ press release in the media kit.
• Receive “Promotional Packet” to include, but not limited to:
  • Press release announcement template
  • Specially designed “Seafood Excellence Global Finalist” email signature
  • “Seafood Excellence Global Finalist” logo
  • Samples of social media messages to use via Twitter and Facebook
• Receive valuable feedback from our expert jury, including a transcript of the judges’ scores and written comments about each product after the competition.

Benefits for Winners:

• Winners get recognition and receive specially designed awards at the Seafood Excellence Global Awards reception on first evening of the exposition.
• Featured in a press release announcing the winners, which will be distributed and pitched to industry and consumer media.
• Winners to be announced via SeafoodSource.com and Seafood Expo events’ social media channels.
• Grand Prize Winners to be interviewed by and featured on SeafoodSource.com, the official media for the exposition.
• Winners to be announced in the “Daily”, the exposition’s daily printed publication covering news at the event.
• Winners will be prominently featured during the remainder of the exposition (Day 2 and Day 3).
• Additional exposure of winners’ products on the exposition’s website.
• Receive “Promotional Packet” to include, but not limited to:
  • Press release announcement template
  • Specially designed “Seafood Excellence Global Winner” email signature
  • “Seafood Excellence Global Winner” logo
  • Samples of social media messages to use via Twitter and Facebook
  • Receive professional photos of the Awards reception and winning teams
• Receive valuable feedback from our expert jury, including a transcript of the judges’ scores and written comments about each product after the competition.

• All applicants must be exhibitors of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global.
• Exhibitors can submit any of their best products, regardless of the date of market introduction. Only the BEST products submitted will be chosen as finalists.
• All entered products will be displayed in the special Seafood Excellence Global stand located in the exhibit hall during the entire duration of the exposition.
• Finalists will be selected from the products entered in the Seafood Excellence Global Awards competition and featured as such in the stand. Winners of the competition will be recognized prominently in the stand.
• Products must be “market ready,” meaning that the manufacturer could take an order for them at the show.
• Products must contain at least 20% saltwater or freshwater species of fish or shellfish, or sea vegetables to qualify for the competition. No products using reptiles, amphibians or mammals are allowed.
• Must be for human consumption.
• Products should offer a relevant difference when compared to other products in the marketplace and offer clear benefits for the consumer and/or end-user. For example, an individual seafood species that has no additional consumer benefits or value-adding would be eliminated.
• Manufacturers with innovative technologies may participate if their technology provides a significant benefit in a seafood product that is entered in the competition.

Entry Process:

• All interested companies must complete an online entry application for each product they wish to enter in the competition. Please READ carefully the application. Each question must be answered. Incomplete entry forms will not be considered.
• Entry fee applies and will be invoiced upon receipt of the Application.
• All entrants will be asked to supply samples/packaging of their product to be displayed in the Seafood Excellence Global stand, located in the exhibit hall during the entire duration of the exposition.

Finalists Selection Process:

• All entries will be screened by the contest screening committee to ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements for the competition.
• The best products will be chosen as finalists in the competition.
• Finalists’ products will be highlighted as such in the Seafood Excellence Global stand.

Winners Selection Process:

• Finalists will be judged by a panel of distinguished judges prior to the start of the exposition. This panel of five to seven experts may include foodservice and retail buyers, executive chefs, marketing experts, nutritionists and consumer advocates.
• All finalists will be asked to provide additional samples and packaging of their product for the judges to evaluate. Finalists’ samples will be prepared as part of the judging at no additional cost to the contestant companies.
• The winning products will be announced at the Seafood Excellence Global Awards reception on the first evening of the exposition.
• Winners’ products will be prominently featured in the Seafood Excellence Global stand for the remainder of the exposition.

Early Bird Entry Fee: Deadline Thursday, 6 February 2025

• Single Product Fee: 385 Euro
• Additional Product Fee: 330 Euro

Late Entry Fee: FINAL Deadline Thursday, 27 February 2025

• Single Product Fee: 500 Euro
• Additional Product Fee: 445 Euro

Judging Criteria

Criteria.                                                                                          % of total

Taste profile

(flavor, texture, aroma, cooked appearance)                                30%

Packaging

(label information, environmental factors, food safety)                 15%

Market potential

(potential for commercial success, correct pricing

and profile for target market, value [quality/price ratio])                15%

Convenience

(for the end user and consumer)                                                    15%

Nutritional value

(appropriate for product and meal occasion)                                 10%

Originality                                                                                     15%

Total                                                                                             100%  

All judging will be based on a numerical scale to keep it as clear and objective as possible. Scores will be audited by an independent accounting firm.

The tasting portion of the judging will be conducted as a blind tasting (product names and manufacturers are not identified). There will be one winner in each category, with special mentions made at the judges’ decision. All winners must meet a minimum score threshold. 

There is an entry fee for the products submitted.

Entry fees will be invoiced upon receipt of the Application. If payment has not been received by due date, the products will be removed from the Seafood Excellence Global Awards competition and their application will be annulled.

Products must be entered in either the “Retail” or “HORECA” category, but not both. Please choose the category that fits the primary market for your product. Finalists will be limited to no more than one grand award and one special award in the competition.

Each category must have at least three products in it for an award to be given. A category will be eliminated if less than three items are entered.

The judges reserve the right to not grant an award in a category at their decision.

The judges’ decision shall be final.

All entry information, screening results and judging scores and comments are strictly confidential. However, product information from the winning products (not including pricing) will be used in press information announcing the winners.

Early Bird Entry Fee: Deadline Thursday, 6 February 2025

Late Entry Fee: FINAL Deadline Thursday, 27 February 2025

• Please have the following information ready in order to complete your online application:
  • Company information
  • Contact information of the person completing the form
  • Contact information of the person who will be at the expo in Barcelona
  • Product information (product name, description, ingredients, nutritional information, target markets, benefits to buyer and consumers, packaging sizes and pricing)

For Questions and More Information:

Seafood Expo Global
Attn: Minh Ly-Gordon

Diversified Communications

121 Free Street, P.O. Box 7437
Portland, ME 04112-7437 USA
Telephone: +1 207-842-5525
Email: [email protected]