Thai Union Group PCL welcomed members from Greenpeace to its headquarters in Bangkok on June 2 to accept an award and petition reaffirming its role as a leader for positive change in the seafood production sector. The fishery and aquaculture products supplier shares a common goal with the non-governmental environmental organization – that of making a mutual vision of healthy seas for all future generations a reality.
In 2016, Thai Union launched SeaChange, a strategic approach to sustainability designed to transform the way the seafood industry operates worldwide. The company regards SeaChange as a journey which covers every aspect of the business: from how to stewardly look after the oceans to how to manage waste; from the responsibility the company takes for workers to building brighter futures for its communities.
Dr. Darian McBain (left), Thai Union’s global director for sustainable development, accepts a leadership trophy from Anchalee Pipattanawattanakul, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, in recognition of the company’s promotion of sustainability in the seafood industry.“Thai Union absolutely accepted the mantle of leadership – knowing our suppliers and ensuring we purchase from responsible organizations and well-managed vessels is critical to helping us achieve our mission to be the seafood industry’s leading agent of positive change,” said Dr. Darian McBain, the company’s global director for sustainable development. “We engage in a wide-ranging set of initiatives in our pursuit to reduce the risks and the likelihood of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing entering our supply chain.”
Additionally, Thai Union participates in significant activities to promote human rights, and safe and legal labor.
Founded in 1977, the company operates worldwide with production plants in France, Ghana, Poland, Portugal, Papua New Guinea, the Seychelles, Scotland, Vietnam and the USA as well as in Thailand. Specializing in canned tuna and frozen shrimp, which respectively account for 37% and 29% of its business, its offerings also include value-added prepared products, salmon, sardines, mackerel and pet food.
In fiscal year 2016, Thai Union posted record high sales of THB 134.4 billion (approximately US $3.8 billion) – up 7.3 percent from the previous year in Thai baht terms, and 2.3 percent in US dollar terms. The underlying sales growth was driven by a number of acquisitions, and overall volume continued to increase. Net profit of THB 5.3 billion was stable from the net profit during 2015.
