Family-owned, California U.S.A.-based retailer Raley’s is celebrating the early completion of its sustainability goal regarding fresh seafood, the company announced on 12 July.
Raley’s was able to transition all of its fresh seafood offerings to sustainable sources six months ahead of schedule, giving consumers a better selection of responsibly ascertained products in 2017.
“When humans consume seafood, we leave a permanent mark on the ecosystem,” Raley’s President and Chief Operating Officer Keith Knopf said. “Sustainable seafood represents a healthy relationship with our planet that can endure forever. It is a way to replenish our oceans and manage their resources into the future. Informed consumers can make all the difference by finding out where their fish comes from and by making responsible choices.”
The retailer’s fishery partners are “dedicated to preserving the health of marine environments for future generations,” according to Raley’s, which only sources fresh seafood from fisheries or farms with credible, internationally-recognized certifications. The company also mandates that its vendors “provide documented evidence that products do not come from sources that utilize any illegal methods” to help ensure full seafood traceability.
Raley’s also conducts routine audits and requests substantial documentation to make sure its sustainability policy is being followed. The company partnered with Resiliensea Group to create and implement its seafood program, fishery certification and ongoing seafood audits. Seafood staff at each of Raley’s 122 stores in Northern California and Nevada – which operate under the banners Raley’s, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods and Food Source – have been extensively trained on the topic of sustainability, the company said.
