Seatrade Cruise Announces Winners of Inaugural F&B@Sea Awards
The inaugural F&B@Sea Awards unveiled this year's outstanding achievers during its debut ceremony held on April 11, 2024, at F&B@Sea. Recognizing excellence and innovation within the global food and beverage cruise industry, the awards highlight the pivotal role of the food and beverage sector in shaping the cruise experience.
Hosted by Vice President of MarkeTeam Ken Taylor and Seatrade Cruise News Deputy Editor Holly Payne, the awards covered seven categories, three aimed at suppliers within the industry and four aimed at Cruise Lines. These included awards such as Most Sustainable Product, Wellness Pioneer, Best Restaurant, F&B Maverick of the year, and more. Handpicked for their unwavering commitment to culinary excellence, the judges for the 2024 F&B@Sea Awards boasted diverse backgrounds, remarkable credentials, and unparalleled expertise in the food and beverage industry.
Hailing from academia, journalism, hotels, wine & beverage, and culinary fields, the panel offered a rich tapestry of F&B knowledge. Their collective insights, coupled with specialized industry experience, ensured a fair and expert assessment of each nomination, reflecting the current trends in both land-based and at-sea dining.
The esteemed winners of the awards are as follows:
- Most Sustainable Product: Riverence Provisions
- Wellness Pioneer: Konscious Foods
- Trailblazing Product: AUTEC
- Best Beverage Programme: Royal Caribbean International; Icon of the Seas
- Best Restaurant: Crystal Cruises; Umi Uma
- Most Sustainable F&B Programme: Holland America Line; Food Sourcing & Food Waste Reduction
- F&B Maverick of the Year: Rudi Sodamin; Princess Cruises
Additionally, the accolade for Best Vendor Stall Setup awarded to Pepsico was determined through onsite voting via QR code. This award spotlights exceptional presentation, engagement, and overall immersive excellence.
Chiara Giorgi, Global Brand and Event Director of Seatrade Cruise, remarked, "The F&B@Sea Awards spotlight excellence and innovation, providing a global platform for industry leaders shaping the future of F&B cruising. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 winners for their remarkable achievements."
In expressing gratitude, a representative from AUTEC stated, "We're honored and thrilled to receive the Trailblazing Product of the Year award for our ASM865A Maki Maker. AUTEC is dedicated to sharing Japanese culture through sushi, and we're delighted to introduce this culinary tradition to cruise line passengers. Our Sushi Robots enable cruise line chefs to deliver high-quality and authentic sushi experiences. Thank you for this incredible honor!"
“This award is a testament to Royal Caribbean's commitment to delivering the best family vacation and infusing 'adventure' in thoughtful and unexpected ways -- including the beverage program! On behalf of my colleagues shoreside and crew, thank you for recognizing the passion and hard work invested by all of us to deliver unique experiences, big and small. We're proud to have an award-winning program to show for it,” added Linken D’ Souza, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage Global Operations, Royal Caribbean International.
