Convenience and stylish added value were key themes at the 13th European Seafood Exposition this week.
Exhibitors from 70 countries offered products, particularly in the shellfish arena, presented in increasingly sophisticated convenience formats, from glass jars and easy-open cans to vacuum packed and ready-for-steaming or ready-to-eat plastic packaging, and with marinades and sauces much to the fore.
The wealth of new product development is indicated by products shortlisted for the Expo’s Prix d’élite.
These included sea urchin caviar and fresh frozen sea urchin roe from Canada’s Kiku Fisheries Corporation; Coraya Fish & Dip Take-Away from
France’s Cuisimer; Queen Scallop in a Garlic Butter Sauce, ready to eat in three minutes, from Fastnet Mussels of Ireland; and microwaveable Prawn Tapas from Morubel of Belgium.
Buyers from Tesco, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury, Costco and Hazlewood Foods were among 14,000 visitors to the show, while exhibitors totalled 1,350.
There was a particularly strong presence from Scotland, Shetland, France, Norway, Canada, China and other Asian nations.
Global sourcing is rising in importance for the EU, with global fisheries production rising while that from EU waters is falling due to smaller fishing fleets and shrinking quotas.
Meanwhile, European markets are getting hungrier for seafood.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation believes that by 2030, consumption of fish and seafood will have increased by between one per cent and 12% in 19 member states, including the UK. Health and knowledge of seafood gained on foreign holidays will be a key factor in driving sales. Sales will also be boosted by supermarkets having taken over from fishmongers, and by their access to far-reaching logistical networks.
Kit Davies, Brussels
Exhibitors from 70 countries offered products, particularly in the shellfish arena, presented in increasingly sophisticated convenience formats, from glass jars and easy-open cans to vacuum packed and ready-for-steaming or ready-to-eat plastic packaging, and with marinades and sauces much to the fore.
The wealth of new product development is indicated by products shortlisted for the Expo’s Prix d’élite.
These included sea urchin caviar and fresh frozen sea urchin roe from Canada’s Kiku Fisheries Corporation; Coraya Fish & Dip Take-Away from
France’s Cuisimer; Queen Scallop in a Garlic Butter Sauce, ready to eat in three minutes, from Fastnet Mussels of Ireland; and microwaveable Prawn Tapas from Morubel of Belgium.
Buyers from Tesco, Morrisons, M&S, Sainsbury, Costco and Hazlewood Foods were among 14,000 visitors to the show, while exhibitors totalled 1,350.
There was a particularly strong presence from Scotland, Shetland, France, Norway, Canada, China and other Asian nations.
Global sourcing is rising in importance for the EU, with global fisheries production rising while that from EU waters is falling due to smaller fishing fleets and shrinking quotas.
Meanwhile, European markets are getting hungrier for seafood.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation believes that by 2030, consumption of fish and seafood will have increased by between one per cent and 12% in 19 member states, including the UK. Health and knowledge of seafood gained on foreign holidays will be a key factor in driving sales. Sales will also be boosted by supermarkets having taken over from fishmongers, and by their access to far-reaching logistical networks.
Kit Davies, Brussels
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