Press Release: FishWise Partner Albertsons Expands Responsible Seafood Program - "Top 20 by 2022"

FISHWISE PRESS RELEASE (PDF available here.)

FishWise Partner Albertsons Companies Expands Responsible Seafood Program to Shelf-Stable Tuna and Sushi, Announces Ambitious “Top 20 by 2022″ Responsible Seafood Goal

Santa Cruz, California, November 1, 2016 – Setting a vision for sustainable seafood across 2,300+ stores in the U.S., FishWise retail partner Albertsons Companies announced today a new Responsible Seafood Policy. “We are proud of the Albertsons Companies,” states Ashley Greenley, Project Director at FishWise. “Their new Policy builds on the progress and momentum we achieved while partnering with Safeway and sets a high standard for the next generation of comprehensive retailer commitments.”

The Responsible Seafood Policy expands Albertsons Companies existing seafood program beyond fresh and frozen seafood to include shelf-stable tuna sold in the grocery department and sushi sold in the retailer’s delis. Based on recommendations from the Common Vision for Sustainable Seafood, the Policy also incorporates important elements in seafood sustainability, such as improving traceability in seafood supply chains, accounting for social responsibility, and engaging in initiatives that drive positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes in fisheries and aquaculture production.

In tandem with the new Policy, Albertsons Companies also announced an ambitious Top 20 by 2022 goal for their fresh and private-label frozen seafood, whereby 100% of the top 20 wild and farmed seafood products sold at Albertsons Companies will meet the Responsible Seafood Policy by year-end 2022. Excluding national brands, the new fresh and frozen commitment encompasses 94% (by volume) of fresh and frozen seafood. In coming months, FishWise will work closely with Albertsons Companies to establish similar time-bound goals for shelf-stable tuna and sushi, the newest seafood categories to be included in the Responsible Seafood Program.

“This is a pivotal moment for our company,” says Buster Houston, Group Director of Seafood at Albertsons Companies. “We’re setting the future course for our sustainability efforts and are demonstrating to the world our commitment to take on challenging issues in seafood, such as shelf-stable tuna, social responsibility, and traceability.”

About FishWise

FishWise is a non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy based in Santa Cruz, CA. Uniquely positioned between the seafood industry and marine conservation organizations, FishWise offers a range of services that create trust between seafood vendors and their customers, enabling businesses to sell more sustainable seafood, more profitably. For more information, please visit www.fishwise.org.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. The company operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 19 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Albertsons Companies is dedicated to helping people across the country live better lives. In 2015 alone, with the help of generous customers, Albertsons Companies and the Albertsons Companies Foundation gave more than $270 million in food and financial support to the more than 2,300 communities they serve, improving the lives of millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities, and veterans outreach. Albertsons Companies is committed to making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Media Contacts

FishWise:

Meghan Frolli, Retail Division Director at FishWise

Email: m.frolli@fishwise.org
Phone: (831) 427-1707 ext. 114

Albertsons Companies:

Teena Massingill, Director of Corporate Public Affairs

Email: teena.massingill@albertsons.com

Phone: (925) 226-5820