WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Dec. 28, 2017) — Today, Hy-Vee, Inc. announced that 100 percent of its private-brand shelf-stable tuna products are now sourced from environmentally preferred fisheries. The news comes less than one year after Hy-Vee announced it was expanding its Seafood Procurement Policy to include the shelf-stable tuna category.
“We continue to push forward in our seafood sustainability goals and add categories to our list of responsibly sourced items,” said Brett Bremser, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Hy-Vee. “Offering Hy-Vee private label shelf-stable tuna to that list is a major accomplishment. These items are value-oriented and offer our customers a seafood option that promotes well-being for them and for our environment.”
In accordance with the Seafood Procurement Policy, Hy-Vee’s private-brand shelf-stable tuna products are sourced from fisheries that are (in order of preference): 1) certified by the Marine Stewardship Council with supply chain traceability (Chain of Custody); and/or 2) Green or Yellow rated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program; and/or engaged in fishery improvement projects[1] making measurable and time-bound progress. To begin addressing non-environmental risks in its shelf-stable tuna assortment, Hy-Vee recently adopted multi-year due diligence plans to improve product traceability, ensure tuna is from legal and verifiable sources, and promote social responsibility.
Hy-Vee also recognizes the importance of supporting initiatives to drive positive change in the global tuna sector. To that end, Hy-Vee recently signed on to a letter to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) calling for the treaty-based international organization to adopt measures to address key issues that are fundamental to sustainable tuna management.
Hy-Vee has long been partnered with FishWise, a nonprofit sustainable seafood consultancy that promotes the health and recovery of ecosystems through environmentally and socially responsible business practices.
“Hy-Vee continues to lead by example,” said Kathleen Mullen-Ley, project director at FishWise. “By transitioning their private-brand shelf-stable tuna products to environmentally responsible sources, they provide proof to the rest of the U.S. grocery retail market that it is possible to start taking meaningful action now.”
Customers can look for Hy-Vee’s Responsible Choice label in the grocery aisle to ensure they are purchasing shelf-stable tuna products that are responsibly sourced. For more information about Hy-Vee’s Responsible Seafood Program, visit here.
About Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 245 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s 85,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.
About FishWise
FishWise is a nonprofit 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 empower businesses and a diverse community of collaborators to lead the transition to a sustainable, responsible seafood industry. For more information, please visit www.fishwise.org, and follow FishWise’s work on Facebook and Twitter.
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