7.) Trader Joe’s
Greenpeace claims that Trader Joe’s hit some snags this year, especially in the realm of transparency, smacking the grocer with an overall rating of 6.45. Despite these setbacks, Trader Joe’s is still the industry leader when it comes to Red List sales – the retailer sells just six out of the 22 species on Greenpeace’s Red List.
“The retailer needs to be more transparent with its specific systems, supplier requirements and overall sustainable seafood policy. Trader Joe’s has come a long way over the years, though it must continue its efforts in a proactive, transparent way to move back into the top five ranked retailer,” Greenpeace wrote.
Furthermore, while the major grocery chain “has requirements suppliers must agree to, Greenpeace is unclear about the systems used to track suppliers and how Trader Joe’s ensures traceability to the vessel or farm harvesting the seafood.” Because of this, the non-profit “is concerned that the company relies solely on certification schemes instead of independent third party audits of its supply chain.”
Headquarters: Monrovia, Cali.
Store Count: 459 stores
FY 2014 sales: USD 13 billion
