Iowa-based supermarket chain Hy-Vee said that 79 percent of its fresh and private label frozen seafood meets the goal of being responsibly sourced and traceable or in a time-bound improvement process, just one year after implementing a sustainable seafood procurement policy.
Hy-Vee’s Responsible Sourcing Commitment states that by the end of this year, Hy-Vee will sell 100 percent responsibly sourced fresh and private label frozen seafood that is rated green or yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program; certified to an environmental standard equivalent to those ratings; or sourced from credible, time-bound improvement processes.
“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, VP of perishables at Hy-Vee. “We are dedicated to delivering a diverse and high-quality seafood selection to our Midwest customers. To accomplish this, we believe we must also play an integral role in keeping our oceans healthy.”
The policy and commitment were developed in partnership with FishWise, a California-based nonprofit organization focused on supporting sustainability through environmentally responsible business practices.
Hy-Vee’s policy also includes the Responsible Choice labeling initiative, which informs customers about the company’s efforts to provide seafood from environmentally responsible sources. The policy was created to help Hy-Vee sell seafood that is not only safe for consumption, but that is also harvested or raised in a manner providing for its long-term viability while minimizing damage to the environment and other sea life.
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating 235 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of more than USD 8.7 billion (EUR 7.65 billion) annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States.
