Albertsons own brands get sustainable seafood stamp of approval

Albertsons store brands Open Nature and waterfront Bistro will soon have updated packaging to sport the “Responsible Choice” logo that signifies the products were sourced sustainably.

The logo is a stamp of approval from Albertsons Cos. on its store brands that tell shoppers the products meet the company’s Responsible Seafood Policy, which guarantees a product has been rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program, or has been certified to an equivalent environment standard or sourced from fisheries or farms that make measurable and time-bound improvements.

Other retailers like Food Lion and Publix have taken measures to ensure private brand seafood products are coming from sustainable sources. Food Lion, for one, partnered with the Ocean Disclosure Project, and Publix has collaborated with Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) to help shoppers identify seafood products raised responsibly.

For Albertsons, the Responsible Choice Logo will be on more than 100 unique items in the company’s waterfront BISTRO and Open Nature own brands. The seafood items are carried throughout Albertsons Cos.’ over 2,200 Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, ACME Markets, Randalls, Haggen and other banner stores.

“For many of our customers, sustainability is just as important as quality, convenience and price,” said Chad Coester, senior vice president, own brands, Albertsons. “We’re committed to delivering the best of all of the above, and I’m proud of our own brands and seafood sourcing teams for pushing to meet this target 2½ years ahead of our Responsible Seafood Policy."

Albertsons has worked with the nonprofit sustainable seafood consultancy FishWise on its efforts, and this latest move joins others like Albertsons’ removal of freshwater eel (unagi) from its sushi offering. Wild eel populations are in dangerous decline.