Tesco nets MSC’s fish counter award, Sainsbury’s named supermarket of the year

Sainsbury’s picked up the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) U.K. Supermarket of the Year award for the fourth year running, but was pipped to the post for the U.K. Sustainable Fish Counter of the Year accolade by rival Tesco at the non-profit eco-label organization’s annual awards. 

MSC highlighted that Tesco counters now offer 22 choices of MSC-certified sustainable seafood, while Sainsbury’s was awarded the Supermarket of the Year title in recognition of its selection of 225 MSC-certified sustainable choices, as well as the volume and value of its sales.   

“Sainsbury’s continues to lead the way which is why we’ve awarded them Supermarket of the Year for the fourth year running. Similarly, Tesco were best newcomer in 2016, so to win the Fish Counter award this year shows an enormous amount of progress in just 12 months,” said Toby Middleton, MSC Northeast Atlantic program director.

“Retailers, restaurants and brands are upping their game when it comes to sustainable seafood. Much of this is thanks to consumers. Whether popping to the chippie for supper, picking up a tuna sandwich or enjoying a seafood platter in a top restaurant, shoppers and diners expect a sustainable choice. It’s the bare minimum. And every MSC labeled product or dish that appears on a shelf, counter or menu, helps to protect our oceans for generations. Sustainable sourcing really is changing the world. That’s got to be worth a trophy,” he said.

Other winners included Lidl who, with over 100 MSC-labeled products, received the Mid-Size Store Retailer of the Year. The discounter also took the Marketing Campaign of the Year award for its recent MSC mussels TV adverts. Birds Eye won Frozen Brand of the Year, and John West, which offers 32 certified sustainable choices, took Canned Seafood Brand of the Year.  

The awards also recognized the growing choice of sustainable seafood menus across the country, with the   U.K. Newcomer of the Year award going to Whitbread’s Premier Inns, which earlier this year became the world’s largest hotel chain to be MSC certified, while restaurateur Thomasina Miers was given the UK Special Achievement Award for championing MSC seafood across her Wahaca restaurant chain for almost 10 years.

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