(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
Vinh Hoan’s Cured Panga Croquette
Organized by Diversified, the Seafood Excellence Asia Awards recognize innovative seafood products introduced to the market over the past 18 months. The 2026 awards were presented on 2 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, as part of Seafood Expo Asia.
Vinh Hoan’s winning product features Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)-certified salt-cured pangasius, prepared using traditional methods and combined with creamy mashed potato before being coated in a golden, crispy shell. Designed for convenience, the croquette can be cooked directly from frozen using a deep fryer, oven or air fryer.
“This year, we stuck with our core product offering, and that is the strategy that worked,” Vinh Hoan Chief Sales Officer Hoa Truong said after receiving the award.
The product was evaluated alongside other finalists by a panel of seafood buyers and industry experts from major retailers, foodservice companies and hospitality groups across Asia. Judging criteria included taste and eating experience, packaging, market potential, originality and convenience.
Singapore-based Lam Kee Fisheries received the runner-up award for its Japanese Curry Cod Cube, while fellow Singaporean company Hai Sia Seafood took second runner-up with its Kami No Ebi prawn product.
Vinh Hoan’s victory demonstrates how value-added and convenient seafood products can create new opportunities for Vietnamese pangasius, moving beyond traditional frozen fillets toward more differentiated products suited to modern consumer demand.
The Cured Panga Croquette is being showcased at Seafood Expo Asia in Singapore, alongside other nominated products in the event’s Product Showcase.
Source: Seafood Expo Asia