HOUSTON – Sysco Corporation has pledged to assess its current seafood supply and to develop ways to improve the sustainability of its seafood-buying practices and standards by 2015, as part of a multiple-stage World Wildlife Fund (WWF) commitment.
Specifically, the company will obtain its top ten Sysco brand wild-caught seafood species — which represent about 52 percent of the Sysco-branded seafood product line — from fisheries that are either certified, under assessment by the Marine Stewardship Council or involved in fishery improvement projects with WWF. These wild-caught seafood products include tuna, clams, cod, pollock, shrimp, scallops, salmon, calamari, lobster and crab.
Additionally, Sysco has agreed to encourage its tuna suppliers to engage in the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation in order to move toward long-term procurement from sustainable, MSC-certified tuna sources.
"Sysco is eager to begin this phase of sustainable work with WWF," said Craig Watson, Sysco's vice president-Agricultural Sustainability. "We believe that this level of supply-chain engagement will help with greater efforts to improve the health of the oceans and fisheries that we share."
Sysco also has committed to work closely with WWF on mahi-mahi and spiny lobster fishery improvement projects in South and Central America. These improvements, such as the adoption of a National Plan of Action for an Ecuadorian mahi-mahi fishery, will support the sustainable management of the fishery. Sysco's involvement in helping to improve management of the lobster fisheries will also directly help these fisheries to perform at levels consistent with MSC standards. This benefits local communities, fishermen, suppliers and consumers.
The MSC sets standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. WWF, the world's leading global conservation organization, is at the forefront of helping businesses to responsibly source wild seafood products.
"As a market leader in seafood, we applaud Sysco's commitments to adopt more sustainable practices for the benefit of the industry and our planet," said Bill Fox, vice president and managing director of WWF's Fisheries Program. "Commitments like this are essential if we hope to conserve healthy oceans. We are pleased by Sysco's visionary approach to improve its impact on the environment and the sustainability of some of their most popular seafood products. This approach is good for the long-term success of Sysco's business and for our collective futures on the planet."
About Sysco
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 177 distribution facilities serving approximately 400,000 customers. For the fiscal year 2011 that ended July 2, 2011 the company generated record sales of more than $39 billion. For more information about Sysco visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com and for investor relations news follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock.
About World Wildlife Fund
World Wildlife Fund is the world's largest conservation organization, working in 100 countries for half a century. With the support of almost five million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.
Source: Sysco Corporation