West Des Moines, Iowa, USA-headquartered Hy-Vee, Inc., an employee-owned retail company operating 235 stores in eight Midwestern states, has announced the addition of a Responsible Sourcing Commitment to its comprehensive Seafood Procurement Policy. Developed in partnership with FishWise, a non-profit organization focused on supporting sustainability through environmentally responsible business practices, the policy is designed to protect marine resources and ensure future seafood supplies.
Hy-Vee has committed to sell responsibly sourced frozen and non-frozen seafood that is rated Green or Yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, certified to an environmental standard equivalent to these ratings, or is sourced from credible, time-bound improvement processes by the end of 2015.
“It is our mission to do business in a manner that promotes the well-being of our customers, employees, communities, and the global environment,” said Nate Stewart, vice president of perishables. “We aim to be a destination for sustainable seafood, where customers can be confident that they are supporting the health of their families and that of the oceans by purchasing seafood sold at our stores.”
As part of its sourcing strategy, the company is supporting fishery improvement projects and is engaging with suppliers to source seafood that is responsibly harvested or raised. An example of Hy-Vee’s commitment towards sustainability was its transition away from Russian king crab – which had been harvested from a fishery that was allegedly overexploited and subject to high levels of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing – in favor of US king crab fisheries in Alaska, which have healthy stocks and strong management.
The retailer, which generated more than $8 billion in sales last year and ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains in the United States, plans to launch a customer education program at its fish merchandising cases, whereby seafood items that meet the procurement policy will receive a ‘Responsible Choice’ call-out.
Based in Santa Cruz, California, FishWise promotes the health and recovery of ocean ecosystems by providing market-based tools to the seafood industry and supporting sustainability through environmentally responsible business practices. It partners with some of North America’s largest retailers, suppliers, and producers.
