Kvarøy Arctic, Alaska Glacier Seafoods, and Yonges Island Fish Company are among the suppliers recognized as part of Whole Foods Market’s annual supplier awards.
The Austin, Texas, U.S.A.-based retailer named Kvarøy, Norway-based Kvarøy Arctic its Global Perishables Supplier of the Year as part of its recognition of 42 global and regional suppliers.
“In a year that brought so many unusual challenges to our supply chain, this award is even more meaningful,” Kvarøy Arctic CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen said in a press release. “It’s an honor that is shared with our entire team as they worked tirelessly to tackle issues head-on in order to have uninterrupted delivery during a time when transportation and cargo were unpredictable.”
Since its launch in March 2020, Kvarøy has supplied its fresh farm-raised Atlantic salmon to Whole Foods’ locations nationwide in the U.S. Last October, Kvarøy introduced a line of cold smoked salmon co-branded with Santa Barbara Smokehouse at Whole Foods stores. Kvarøy has since achieved both Best Aquaculture Practices certification and Fair Trade certification.
Meggett, South Carolina, U.S.A.-based Yonges Island Fish Company was among Whole Foods’ Global Rookie of the Year award-winners. The award is presented to new global suppliers who provide products to three or more Whole Foods’ regions with strong overall performance and execution, the retailer said in a press release. Yonges supplies sustainable shellfish, mahi, and swordfish.
Alaska Glacier Seafoods was among the Raising the Bar for Quality award-winners. The supplier, which specializes in wild, sustainable Alaska seafood, processes more than 10 million pounds of fish annually at its Auke Nu Cove, Alaska processing plant.
“It is Whole Foods Market’s honor to celebrate our suppliers who have demonstrated fantastic cooperation, resilience, creativity and commitment to quality, rising to excellence in a year unlike any other,” Whole Foods Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Sonya Gafsi Oblisk said.
