Albertsons Companies said that 100 percent of its stores’ prepared sushi is now responsibly-sourced – a year ahead of schedule.
Now, all salmon, tuna, shrimp, and imitation crab used in the Boise, Idaho-based operator’s nearly 2,300 stores including Safeway and Jewel-Osco, meets Albertsons’ Responsible Seafood Policy.
Albertsons’ Responsible Seafood Policy says that its seafood is rated green (best choice) or yellow (good alternative) by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program, or that it is certified to an equivalent environmental standard, or that it is sourced from fisheries or farms making measurable and time-bound improvements.
“We owe it to our customers to make sure each and every product is of the highest quality, and at Albertsons Companies, that includes offering seafood from environmentally responsible sources,” Albertsons Group Vice President of Bakery and Deli Food Service Jewel Hunt said in a press release. “We are thrilled to be achieving our sushi commitment early, and look forward to sharing more on our progress across the rest of our seafood portfolio in the coming months.”
Originally adopted in 2018, Albertsons’ “Top 5 by 2022” sushi commitment set an ambitious goal for the company to transition its salmon, tuna, shrimp, and imitation crab to sources that meet the Responsible Seafood Policy within five years.
As part of its sushi commitment, the company also pledged to discontinue eel until sustainable sources become available, which was achieved in 2019. Albertsons also said last year that 100 percent of its Open Nature and waterfront BISTRO seafood met its Responsible Seafood Policy two-and-a-half years early.
Meanwhile, in collaboration with its sushi vendors and FishWise, Albertsons is undertaking a traceability project to verify that tuna fishing boats in the company’s sushi supply chains follow international fishing laws and industry best practices as outlined in Albertsons’ At-Sea Transshipment of Tuna Position Statement.
The responsibly-sourced sushi can be purchased at any of the Albertsons’ family of stores where sushi is sold, including: Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, ACME Markets, Randalls, Pavilions, Haggen and Carrs.
Photo courtesy of Albertsons
