Sainsbury's is the UK's largest retailer of MSC certified sustainable fish, with over 80 products that carry the blue eco-label (Photo: Sainsbury's)

COMPANY OF THE WEEK: Sainsbury’s Reaches Record for Sustainably Sourced Fish

The supermarket chain Sainsbury’s (Public, LON:SBRY) has announced the launch of its 100th Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified product, leading the way as the largest retailer in the United Kingdom (UK) of sustainably sourced seafood.

Icelandic line caught Haddock will add to the already well established and successful MSC certified products available in-store including Cornish sardines and Basics pollock fish fingers.

Sainsbury's supplier, Saemark, works closely with fishing partners in 4 communities on the west coast of Iceland to deliver outstanding freshness and quality to Sainsbury’s fish counters

Working in exclusive partnership with suppliers, the launch also marks the first MSC certified fishery in Iceland. Last October, Sainsbury’s announced a sustainability plan to achieve 20 goals by 2020, including all fish will be independently certified as sustainable.

Ally Dingwall

Ally Dingwall, Sainsbury’s Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager, said: “We’re proud to continue to lead the way in offering sustainable seafood to our customers. As the UK’s largest retailer of MSC and Freedom Food fish, we always source food as responsibly as possible."

"At Sainsbury’s we know that customers want the peace of mind that the fish they buy is as sustainable as possible, which is why we will continue to boost the amount of MSC certified fish available in our stores.”

“With such a stretching target that we have set ourselves by 2020, it’s great to celebrate a landmark such as this”, Dingwall added.

Toby Middleton, MSC’s UK Country Manager said: “Sainsbury’s has led a race to the top as the first retailer in the world to reach this milestone and this is a reflection of their long-standing commitment to MSC certified sustainable seafood. Sainsbury’s has set the bar very high for retailers around the world and continue to work to raise it. The 2020 commitment is a perfect example of this and Sainsbury’s can be justifiably proud of their achievements.”

All Sainsbury's fresh and frozen haddock is line-caught, from responsibly managed fisheries in Iceland

Sainsbury’s is the largest retailer MSC certified sustainable fish in the UK. The supermarket’s first MSC certified product, Thames Herring, was launched in March 2000. It has been rated Number 1 by Greenpeace for the responsible sourcing of canned tuna in 2008 and again in 2011.

About Sæmark

Sæmark was established in 1985 as a subsidiary of the Icelandic Freezing Plants Corporation. In 1999 the holding company turned to export of frozen seafood exclusively and Sigurður Björnsson created Sæmark Seafood Ltd. The company has developed a strong business relationship with major organisations in the Icelandic fishing and fish processing industry. This relationship and a powerful transportation network have made it possible for Sæmark Seafood to deliver fresh fish on daily basis to the US, UK and continental Europe. 

About Sainsbury’s

J. Sainsbury plc (Public, LSE: SBRY) is the parent company of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, commonly known as Sainsbury's, the third largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom with a share of the UK supermarket sector of 16.5 percent. The group also has interests in property and banking.

Sainsbury's supermarket

Sainsbury's was founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury and his wife Mary Ann, in London, England, and grew rapidly during the Victorian era.

Sainsbury's grew to become the largest grocery retailer in 1922, pioneered self-service retailing in the UK, and had its heyday during the 1980s. In 1995, Tesco overtook Sainsbury's to become the market leader, and Asda became the second largest in 2003, demoting Sainsbury's into third place.

The founding Sainsbury family still retain approximately 15 percent of J Sainsbury plc shares (as of May 2008), through various trusts.

The family reduced their stake from 35 percent in 2005. The largest Sainsbury family shareholders are Lord Sainsbury of Turville with 5.83 percent and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, who controls just under 3 percent of the company, and benefits from 1.6 percent of the equity included in the above.

The largest overall shareholder is the investment vehicle of the Qatari royal family who now hold 26.145 percent of the company.

Source: MSC/Sainsbury's

Margaret E.L. Stacey
Editor Companies and Products
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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