Raley’s latest O-N-E Market, which opened recently in El Dorado Hills, Sacramento, California, highlights a myriad of fresh sustainable seafood options, including made-to-order poke bowls.
The West Sacramento-based retailer operates two other O-N-E Markets in Truckee, California and Reno, Nevada, and 124 stores in total.
The new concept focuses on fresh and nutritious foods that are organic (when possible), minimally-processed, and sustainably-sourced, Raley’s said in a press release. In every department, all products exclude ingredients from the Raley’s O-N-E Market banned ingredients list, such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats and oils.
“Raley’s O-N-E Market is an important part of our long-range strategy, and there will be additional conversions beyond this one,” Raley’s President and CEO Keith Knopf said. “It is our intent to be ahead of the consumer curve and inform customer choice through a commitment to education and transparency.”
With the exception of shellfish, the O-N-E Market store offers only wild-caught fresh and frozen seafood, Raley’s Director of Meat and Seafood Todd Allen told SeafoodSource
“Shellfish is the exception because some items, like oysters, are only available farmed, but even our shellfish is sustainably and responsibly sourced,” Allen said. “All our items are also processed without the use of chemicals.”
The store offers around 10 value-added items that are pre-portioned and ready to cook, as well as fresh prepared sushi and made-to-order poke bowls in its O-N-E Market Cafe.
Raley’s was ahead of some other retailers in terms of prepared foods and meal kits, rolling out several different types of meal kits in 2018 and a variety of prepared meals in 2017. At the time, its Ready-To-Go seafood meals included: Salmon with Lentils & Orzo entrée, Lobster Mac & Cheese entrée, and a Shrimp Scampi mini meal.
The retailer has sourced 100 percent sustainable fresh seafood in all of its stores since 2017, according to Allen.
“It’s of utmost importance that we preserve our oceans bounty for future generations. We believe it’s the correct and responsible way to source our seafood,” Allen said.
If certifications exist for a species, vendors may only supply products from fisheries or aquaculture operations that are certified by Global Aquaculture Alliance, Aquaculture Stewardship Council, Marine Stewardship Council or Responsible Fisheries Management, or are engaged in a reputable Fisheries Improvement Program (FIP) where there is a participating fishery, Allen said.
Meanwhile, O-N-E Market stores’ shelf-stable seafood is held to the same standards as the rest of the store, “meaning it does not include any of the 100-plus ingredients on our banned ingredients list," Allen said.
In addition to the banned ingredients list, O-N-E Market stores encourage healthy eating in a variety of ways.
For example, its Something Extra Health program is designed to help interested customers on their personal wellness journeys, the company said. Led by the store’s nutrition advisor and overseen by a registered dietitian, the program offers classes, store tours, nutrition coaching, personalized supplement recommendations and more at no cost to loyalty members.
Another O-N-E Market is under construction in Roseville, California, with a planned opening in Spring 2022.
“The pace of additional store conversions will be guided by Raley’s purpose and aligned with customer preference,” Raley’s said.
Photo courtesy of Raley’s
