WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass.– Shaw’s Supermarkets today announced a major commitment to seafood sustainability, highlighted by the new availability of fresh case products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world's leading certification and eco-labeling program for sustainable seafood. In addition, Shaw’s will also provide fresh product verified through the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), a nonprofit marine science center. Shaw’s is the first New England-based retailer with fresh product certified by the MSC.
Shaw’s worked closely with the MSC and GMRI, as well as North Coast Seafood – its single seafood supplier – to develop the new sustainable seafood sourcing program. The initial MSC-certified product offerings will include wild sockeye salmon, wild king salmon, wild Coho salmon, wild Alaskan halibut, pacific frozen at sea cod, Canadian frozen at sea flounder, Icelandic fresh haddock and Canadian fresh haddock. Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested products will include lobster, northern shrimp, cod, haddock, sea scallops, and pollock. Additional fresh seafood items will be added as the program expands over time.
“A key element to providing high-quality seafood is ensuring the health of the fisheries that sustain those products,” said Mike Stigers, president, Shaw’s. “By sourcing from sustainable fisheries, Shaw’s can provide our customers the confidence of knowing they are buying seafood from viable sources, with the added value they are also helping sustain seafood supply for generations to come. We are proud to be able to make this important commitment and look forward to building upon it.”
Kerry Coughlin, Marine Stewardship Council Regional Director, Americas, said: “Shaw’s commitment to MSC certified sustainable seafood is an example of leadership at the retail level that will have a ripple effect throughout the industry. By taking this step, Shaw’s will offer customers seafood that can be traced from the Shaw’s fresh case directly back to an MSC certified fishery, thereby supporting sustainable fisheries and the communities and livelihoods that are tied directly to the sea.”
Shaw’s commitment to high-quality, fresh seafood is core to its business and the company takes its responsibility to sustainability seriously. As part of its new sustainability initiatives, Shaw’s provides experts in all of its stores to help answer consumer questions and continue implementing Shaw’s sustainability commitment. Together, Shaw’s seafood experts have collectively gone through 4,500 hours of training on seafood sustainability to prepare for this program.
“The Gulf of Maine Responsibly Harvested program differentiates seafood products from the Gulf of Maine region that meet important criteria around sustainability and traceability,” said Jen Levin, Sustainable Seafood Program Manager, GMRI. “It empowers consumers to feel good about their seafood purchases and support the long-term health of the region’s fisheries and fishing communities.”
Today’s announcement follows the public commitment made earlier this year by SUPERVALU, the parent company of Shaw’s, to source 100 percent of its top-twenty wild-caught seafood products from MSC certified sustainable fisheries or those on a clear pathway to sustainability by 2015 through a WWF Fishery Improvement Project. For more information about Shaw’s commitment to seafood sustainability, please visit: www.shaws.com/seafood.
About Shaw’s Supermarkets
Shaw’s, Osco and Star Market are part of the nationwide SUPERVALU® INC. (NYSE: SVU) family of grocery stores. Shaw’s is one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets in the United States with its roots dating to 1860. Throughout five New England states, there are 169 store locations employing approximately 21,000 associates. For more information about Shaw’s, visit the all-new web site at: www.shaws.com.
About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with annual sales of approximately $37 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of approximately 4,290 stores composed of 1,107 traditional retail stores, including 801 in-store pharmacies; 1,283 hard-discount stores, of which 907 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,900 independent stores serviced primarily by the company's traditional food distribution business. SUPERVALU has approximately 140,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit http://www.supervalu.com.
Source: Shaw’s Supermarkets