All the branded and own-label canned tuna sold in Waitrose stores is now either Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified or pole-and-line caught, making it the first U.K. supermarket chain to adopt such a sourcing policy.
Waitrose said the achievement was the result of work with branded tuna suppliers over the last year to improve their sustainability credentials. All of its own-label canned tuna has been pole-and-line caught since 2009 and MSC-certified since 2013, while all the tuna used in own-label ready prepared products such as sandwiches and pâtés are also pole-and-line caught.
The commitment to 100 percent responsible tuna coincides with the launch of a new range of MSC-certified John West canned tuna products. The ready-to-eat, “no drain” cans will be available exclusively at Waitrose for six months.
“Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and we are proud to have such a strong record in ensuring that our own-label tuna is caught in the most responsible way possible. When they buy a can of own-label tuna, our customers know that they are always buying a product which has been responsibly sourced – and now they have the same assurance when it comes to buying a branded product,” said Jeremy Ryland-Langley, Waitrose’s aquaculture and fisheries manager.
Toby Middleton, MSC’s program director applauded Waitrose's move.
“It’s great to see Waitrose expand the range of MSC labeled tuna products on sale in their stores with these new John West MSC-labeled cans. Extending their own sustainable seafood strategy to also apply to the brands they stock shows how seriously Waitrose treat the health of the world’s oceans."
