Winners of the prestigious product competition will be announced on March 16, 2025, at 3:30pm EDT in the Wave Makers’ Zone at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America.
The 43rd edition of North America’s largest seafood event will take place on March 16-18, 2025, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, USA.
Portland, Maine, March 5, 2025 – Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, the largest seafood trade event in North America, produced by Diversified, announces finalists for the 2025 Seafood Excellence Awards. The 11 finalists were selected out of a list of market-ready products that are launching or have been introduced in the past 18 months to the North American market. The winners of the competition will be announced on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 3:30pm EDT in the Wave Makers’ Zone followed by a reception.
The Seafood Excellence Awards recognize the product leaders in the North American seafood market. Each year, companies exhibiting at the three-day expo can submit new products for the Seafood Excellence awards competition. The 11 finalists will be evaluated by three seafood industry experts based on their uniqueness and appropriateness to the market, taste profile, packaging, market potential, convenience, nutritional value and originality on the first day of the Expo.
The 2025 finalists were selected from 68 entries in the expo’s New Product Showcase and compete for two awards: Best New Foodservice Product and Best New Retail Product. Each finalist’s product, and all other new products submitted for the competition, will be displayed in the Wave Makers’ Zone (booth #3165).
The finalists in the foodservice category are:
American Unagi, Inc.
Gluten Free Eel Kabayaki fillet
Booth #3452
The eels are raised without the use of added hormones or antibiotics. The company prides itself in only buying directly from local fisherman who bring us only glass eels caught in local rivers. It begins with hand selecting each fillet, which are then grilled with an all-natural, gluten-free Kabayaki sauce. Guaranteeing a consistent product that is easy to handle, ready to eat and versatile to use. The result is a high-quality gluten free Kabayaki.
Clearwater Seafoods
Breaded Arctic Surf Clams
Booth #2505
Clearwater’s Breaded Arctic Surf Clams, crafted from the tender straps and siphons of sustainably harvested Arctic surf clams, are a convenient and crowd-pleasing breaded seafood offering. Hand-breaded to perfection, these clams boast a golden, crispy coating with a succulent, mild-flavored interior. Pre-breaded, par-fried, and ready in just 60 seconds, Breaded Arctic Surf Clams capture the essence of classic New England cuisine, offering a similar look and taste of whole belly clams at a fraction of the cost—perfect for elevating any menu while maximizing margins.
St. Ours & Co., LLC
St. Ours Crab Broth
Booth #1211
St. Ours Crab Broth Powder is made from slow simmering local, fresh caught green crab, then dehydrating into a powder for longer shelf life and ease of use. The broth powder can be used as a bouillon, soup base, stock, brine and seasoning. It saves hours of preparation and adds depth of flavor to any seafood dish. It’s great for drinks, too! It will be available in a retail package for home cooks. Utilizing an invasive species, this product is also good for the environment and helps coastal fisheries. The stock adds a rich, buttery seafood flavor to any recipe.
The finalists in the retail category are:
Channel Fish Processing
Spanakopita Wild Blue Catfish
Booth #2859
Savor an innovative reimagining of a beloved Greek classic, Spanakopita Wild Blue Catfish. Mild, flaky wild blue catfish meets the vibrant flavors of feta cheese and spinach. This culinary delight incorporates phyllo dough seconds upcycled into a uniquely crunchy breading system. More than just a feast for the palate, this offering showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability by utilizing domestic wild blue catfish, an invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay. With flecks of spinach, crunchy phyllo pieces, and creamy notes of feta cheese, uncover a new favorite species and improve the ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay with every bite.
Clearwater Seafoods
Arctic Surf Clams in Brine
Booth #2505
Clearwater’s premium wild-caught Arctic Surf Clams in Brine are a sustainably harvested, high-quality tinned seafood offering from the pristine waters of the Canadian North Atlantic. Hand-packed in ocean-fresh brine, these sushi-grade clams deliver a sweet, delicate flavor and tender texture, making them the perfect addition to seacuterie boards, gourmet spreads, and seafood-inspired dishes. As a proudly Indigenous-owned company, this product’s packaging features artwork commissioned from a prominent local Indigenous artist, celebrating the rich heritage and connection to the land and sea.
Eastern Fish Co.
Shrimp Bao Bun
Booth #253
A chef crafted, restaurant-quality Asian bao bun filled with real shrimp, veggies and bold flavors. Soft pillowy, and easy to heat, it delivers a satisfying bite in minutes. Very Seafood focused and perfect for a quick meal or snack. This new and unique product offering brings the taste of a quality restaurant straight into your kitchen.
Icy Waters, LLC.
Atlantic Salmon with a Guinness Sweet Honey Mustard Melt & Panko Crumb
Booth #2575
Icy Waters Seafood has collaborated with the Good Fish Co. of Ireland to bring you the finest quality seafood featuring the distinctive flavor of Guinness. The sustainably sourced Atlantic Salmon has a deliciously unique combination of flavors including Guinness, Sweet Honey, Mustard with a Panko Crumb. The product is available for retail and foodservice packaging. Preparation is easy and every bite is packed with flavor.
Multi X
Latitude 45 Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board
Booth #841
The Latitude 45 Charcuterie Board is designed as the perfect product to share with your loved ones. The packaging includes four flavors that cater to every consumer’s palate. Each smoked salmon product undergoes a unique process that enhances its flavor, thanks to a traditional smoking method using natural wood. Thanks to its design, the product is ready to eat, as it contains four individual trays inside, each featuring a high-value-added product.
Naera Icelandic Snacks
Næra® Ranch Salmon Crunchy Fish Bites
Booth #653
The novel all-natural salmon fish bites are batch-crafted and gently dried for a pleasant crunch. They´re packed with omega-3s and satisfying protein to get you through the day or over that next hill. The Ranch Salmon Bites have a crunch forward delicious sour cream and onion flavor. In Icelandic, Næra® (nye-rah) means to “nourish.” The company strives to make the most of everything that goes into its fish bites, from its sustainably farm raised salmon to its use of 100% renewable energy for production to its 100% recyclable packaging. Wherever destiny takes you, bring Næra® Crunchy Fish Bites with you.
Patagonia Seafarms
Salmon Kefta Kebabs
Booth #1933
Patagonia Seafarms Salmon Kefta Kebabs bring a delicious twist to your meals! Made with premium Chilean salmon and expertly seasoned with aromatic spices, zesty ginger, and fragrant lemongrass, these flavorful kebabs turn every bite into a refreshing and satisfying experience. Elevate your home dining with a healthy, mouthwatering option that makes eating salmon exciting!
Thunder’s Catch
Wild Salmon Curry
Booth # 1552
The Wild Salmon Curry features 100% wild-caught Alaska Sockeye Salmon, simmered in a flavorful, all-natural coconut curry sauce with fresh vegetables and simple, wholesome ingredients. Perfectly balanced, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of preservatives – making it a healthy, convenient meal. The 9 oz easy tear-open pouch is shelf-stable and requires no refrigeration, offering a quick, delicious option for busy professionals, outdoor adventurers, or anyone on the go. Premade and ready to heat on the stove or microwave in just minutes, it offers quick, nutritious, delicious convenience whether you’re enjoying a meal at home or in your tent at basecamp.
View all the entries of the Seafood Excellence Awards.
The Seafood Excellence Awards serves as the North American extension of the Seafood Excellence Global Awards competition, held at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, Spain and the Seafood Excellence Asia Awards competition, held at Seafood Expo Asia in Singapore. All three awards are organized by Diversified, producers of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global and Seafood Expo Asia.
Seafood industry buyers and professionals can learn more about Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America and register to attend by visiting seafoodexpo.com/north-america.
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About Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America
Seafood Expo North America/ Seafood Processing North America is North America’s largest seafood exposition. Thousands of buyers and suppliers from around the world attend the annual, three-day exhibition to meet, network and do business. Attending buyers represent importers, exporters, wholesalers, restaurants, supermarkets, hotels, and other retail and foodservice companies. Exhibiting suppliers offer the newest seafood products, processing and packaging equipment, and services available in the seafood market. The exposition is sponsored by the National Fisheries Institute. SeafoodSource is the official media. The exposition is produced by Diversified, the international leader in seafood-industry expositions and media. For more information, visit: www.seafoodexpo.com/north-america.
About Diversified
Diversified is a global B2B events and media company that strengthens business communities by fostering a space, in person and online, for professionals and businesses to connect and grow. The company serves as a trusted partner across several industries including active lifestyle, business management, clean energy, commercial marine, healthcare, seafood, technology and more. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, the global company has divisions and offices around the world in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. Diversified is a third-generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
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