Ahold Delhaize USA Cites Sustainable Seafood Progress

In 2018, Ahold Delhaize USA began a comprehensive initiative in partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to support sustainable seafood efforts at its U.S. brands. By working to vet and audit all seafood products on a continuous basis—whether private brand or national brand—Ahold Delhaize USA said it wanted to ensure it met Ahold Delhaize USA companies’ rigorous sustainable seafood policy as part of the company’s broader transparency commitment.

Fast forward to 2022 on June 8 when World Oceans Day is celebrated, Ahold Delhaize USA said it’s also celebrating the companies’ sustainable seafood progress.

Ahold Delhaize USA, which holds the top spot on the Food and Staples Retailing Sector U.S. index of the 2021 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, said in a statement that it “continues to work with GMRI to validate all new seafood products and collaborates to enhance both environmental and social sustainability in seafood.”

Ahold Delhazie USA said its progress now includes sustainably sourced seafood across each of the U.S. brands’ full assortments of seafood products. In total, more than 3,000 products have been assessed.

“Our commitments to enable greater transparency are grounded in our belief that consumers deserve to know where their food comes from and that it contains ingredients they trust,” said Brittni Furrow, VP of health and sustainability for Ahold Delhaize USA, in a statement. “What’s most meaningful about the sustainable seafood work is that it’s a tangible example of our companies’ commitments to their customers and dedication to putting into practice the sustainability outcomes we have committed to.”

Ahold Delhaize USA said that for each product, information is required from suppliers, including how and where fish were caught or farmed and whether the fish is sourced from a fishery or farm that is certified to a Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative-benchmarked standard, engaged in a Fishery Improvement Project or assessed as low risk by GMRI.

“Ahold Delhaize USA has demonstrated great leadership with their approach to seafood sustainability,” said Kyle Foley, senior program manager for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, in a statement. “Their sustainable seafood policy is comprehensive in its scope, including all fresh, frozen, and canned seafood, and they implement strict traceability requirements of suppliers to ensure they know where their seafood is coming from. Further, they are constantly looking for opportunities to keep improving.”