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Crown Foods-owned Wat Kitchen won Best Meat/Poultry Product at the World Food Innovation Awards 2026, in association with IFE - International Food & Drink Event.
The winners were unveiled during a live ceremony at IFE Manufacturing's Trends & Innovation Platform – as part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2026.
Crown Foods offers a broad frozen and ambient portfolio, with nearly 50 years of experience serving the UK retail and foodservice sectors. Its Asian-inspired ambient meal range, Wat Kitchen, has been created for busy lifestyles.
FoodBev Media talked with Ivor Rawlins, sales director at Crown Foods, at IFE 2026 following the company's achievement.
The winning product
Wat Kitchen's Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken Protein Bites combines premium chicken with authentic Asian-inspired flavour in a high-protein, versatile format. Designed to appeal to both flavour-led and nutrition-conscious consumers, the product brings global taste into an accessible, everyday protein option.
While global flavours continue to grow in popularity, they are often confined to sauces or full ready meals. This product makes international flavour more approachable by applying it to bite-sized chicken pieces that feel familiar, flexible and easy to use.
The bite-sized format supports hot snacking, sharing and meal building, allowing poultry to move beyond traditional single-meal usage occasions. Nutritionally, the product is protein-forward, using lean chicken and a clean ingredient list made up of recognisable ingredients.
Consumers increasingly graze, share and customise meals rather than sit down to fixed formats. This product fits naturally into those behaviours, offering poultry with clear flavour differentiation and strong commercial appeal across retail and foodservice settings.
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