Madrid, June 15, 2023.

Next Sunday, June 18, World Sushi Day is commemorated globally, an emblematic date to celebrate with a dish that is already part of Mediterranean gastronomy. In addition, tomorrow, Friday, June 16, is World Tapas Day and sushi fits perfectly with this concept of small bites to eat and enjoy in good company, as explained by the Norwegian Seafood Council. in Spain

Few know it, but yes, Norway was the 'inventor' of salmon sushi as it is known today. Salmon is on the menu at any sushi establishment in the world, but this was not the case 20 years ago. Although the Japanese have eaten raw fish for centuries, the famous orange salmon did not become a recurring ingredient in their cuisine until recently, recall the Norwegian Seafood Council in Spain. The reason? The Japanese did not consider their neighboring Pacific salmon very suitable for eating raw. However, the clean and safe Norwegian origin of ocean-farmed Atlantic salmon was just right for this dish. The only problem is that the Japanese didn't think of this fish as sushi. At this point, a group of fish exporters with a big dream launched an ambitious campaign from Norway. Thanks to this great idea, a couple of crazy entrepreneurs and good marketing, the exquisite Atlantic salmon is now a best seller in Japan. For many years now, it has become the most popular garnish for sushi in that country. And, from there, the jump to all the countries of the world, including Spain, where today it is an absolute trend."Combined with the momentum of the global expansion of sushi, the high quality, intense color and fresh flavor of Norwegian salmon have made Norway the largest exporter of Atlantic salmon in the world. In Spain alone, 1.4 million meals are served with this fish every day", stressed the director of the Norwegian Seafood Council in Spain, Bjørn- Erik Stabell. Thus, salmon has been gaining popularity in recent years to become the favorite fish of Spanish consumers. In fact, a recent survey carried out by IPSOS for the Norwegian Seafood Council has found that 78% of participating consumers have eaten salmon in the last six months: 53% had sushi with salmon; 28% opted for sashimi with salmon and, the same percentage, opted for poke with salmon. The greatest consumption of salmon is concentrated in the area of ​​Madrid and the center (80%), East (78%), South and the Canary Islands ( 77%) and Northwest and Northeast (73%). And sushi with salmon as an ingredient is the preferred modality!: 60% in Madrid; 56% in the East area; 48% in the South and the Canary Islands; 47% in the Northwest and Northeast. Meanwhile, poke with salmon continues to grow until reaching percentages of 25% in the northwest and northeast regions; 29% in Madrid and downtown; 29% in the Eastern zone and 26% in Andalusia and the Canary Islands. Norwegian Salmon stands out for its flavor, nutritional properties and guarantee of food safety, traceability and sustainability. And Asian cuisine is opening many doors for him. For Bjørn-Erik Stabell, "the sushi trend in Spain has been unstoppable and, in reality, it is a food revolution towards raw consumption that will change the way future generations eat food ". As the director has explained, retail is leading the way with "sushi to go" that can be purchased at the grocery store. Now, in addition, poke is added as "a new megatrend". Therefore, there is much to celebrate on World Sushi Day with all the flavor of Norway and the new gastronomic trends that have come to stay. The Product Council of the Norwegian Sea (NSC) reports directly to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries and is responsible for disclosing the differential values ​​of national references. The NSC is headquartered in Tromsø and has local offices in 12 of the world's largest Norwegian seafood markets: Sweden, Germany, UK, France, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Japan, China, Singapore and the US. , as well as Spain. More information and recipes with Norwegian fish and shellfish: https://mardenoruega.es/recetas/

ContactContact name: Tactics EuropeContact description: Norwegian Seafood CouncilContact telephone: 915062860