Spanish supermarket group Eroski has posted a 24% increase in the purchase of certified sustainable fish, with the total volume of sustainable fish purchased now exceeding one million kilos in the first half of the year.
All sustainable fish is purchased according to MSC and GLOBALG.A.P. certification and marketed under the retailer's Eroski Natur brand.
Eroski made the announcement to reinforce its commitment to the importance of eco-labels when sourcing fresh fish – a commitment that offers 'fundamental support' to the fishing sector.
Alejandro Martínez Berriochoa, director of health and sustainability at Eroski, said that the retailer's commitment to sustainable seafood "guarantees to the consumer that the fresh fish with eco-label found [on] our counters comes from fisheries and sustainable productions.
"At Eroski, we ensure that all processes, from the origin of production to operations in store, are as responsible as possible," added Martínez Berriochoa.
Catch Of The Day
Working alongside MSC, Eroski has landed 900 tonnes of certified seafood in the first half of the year, including cod, bonito, lobster and anchovy, among other species.
In addition, three months ago, the retailer became the first Spanish retail chain to pass the GLOBALG.A.P. Certified Aquaculture Chain Of Custody Audit, which certifies that the species sold in its stores have been sourced safely and sustainably.
"The number of consumers seeking reliable information when they buy fish and seafood continues to grow," said Flavio Alzueta, vice-president of business development of GLOBALG.A.P.
"Issues related to the origin and production methods, as well as social and ecological conditions, play an increasingly important role in determining customer purchasing decisions," added Alzueta.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
