Sonae MC was in 2010 the first food retail group in Portugal to adopt a fish sustainability policy

Continent, the first distributor to achieve MSC and ASC certification to market fish of sustainable origin in its fishmongers

The MSC Sustainable Fishing Blue Label will appear on Cape hake, redfish and cod; salmon will incorporate the ASC responsible aquaculture label from Continente supermarkets

The certification includes the handling and sale of fish with MSC and ASC certification in the Continent fishmongers, of the Sonae MC group

Continente is the first Portuguese distributor to certify its fishmongers according to the Chain of Custody Standard of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an environmental and non-profit organization whose standard for sustainable fishing is recognized worldwide. The Portuguese retailer will market fresh and frozen fish in bulk from sustainable fisheries in the fishmongers of all Continente stores in the Portuguese territory.

The MSC Chain of Custody Standard ensures the traceability of products from MSC-certified sustainable fisheries and ASC-certified aquaculture productions, from source to end consumer.

With the certification of the 41 fishmongers in its Continent hypermarkets, the company offers its consumers, starting in the coming weeks, the guarantee that the fish bearing the MSC seal is traceable and comes from sustainable fishing or responsible aquaculture.

Certification includes Cape hake and redfish for the bulk frozen fish counters and ASC salmon for the fresh fish counter. Also in the fresh section, it will be possible to find the famous Norwegian special dried cod cured in flower of salt with MSC certification.

The Continente fishmongers certification covers the 41 Continente hypermarkets, 3 logistics platforms (responsible for receiving and distributing fish), as well as the training of more than 1000 employees and teams in the group's fresh and logistics section.

This commitment to the sustainability of fishery products has also been verified in the field of action of the Continente own brand, where throughout 2020 more than 20 Continente brand references have been developed with the blue MSC seal for the stores of the group. A work of the food distribution chain together with its suppliers that shares the vision of sustainable fishing and a future full of fish for current and future generations.

The certification with MSC and ASC of the Sonae MC group reinforces the commitment of the Portuguese food giant with the sustainability of the sea and oceans, not only to raise awareness among consumers, but also the entire fishing value chain, a commitment for respecting the status of the species population, the marine ecosystem and rewarding sustainable fisheries management with the resources of the sea.

Carla Santos, Director of the Fish Market Business Unit at Sonae MC

“More and more customers want to be informed about what they eat, especially about the origin of the products. In the case of fish, it has been a concern of ours for several years, regardless of consumer demands. Sonae MC was in 2010 the first food retail group in Portugal to adopt a fish sustainability policy, positioning itself as a benchmark in national distribution, in terms of this concern. We have defined principles for the protection of fish species and populations throughout the value chain and we are committed to continue doing so ”.

Laura Rodríguez, Director of the Marine Stewardship Council Spain and Portugal Program

“Portugal is a country that lives towards the sea and in which fish is a central part of culture and gastronomy. For fish to remain available for the future, it is essential to ensure that it comes from sustainable sources. The Sonae MC certification makes it easier for Portuguese consumers to recognize and choose fish of sustainable and traceable origin. We congratulate Sonae MC for pioneering the MSC certification of its fishmongers and bulk frozen counters in Portugal and we thank the team that has led this project, their involvement and professionalism ”.

Marcos Moya, Commercial Manager of the ASC Portugal, Spain and North America program

“We applaud the effort and commitment to sustainability of Sonae MC, setting an example and paving the way for a supply of marine products that are not only fresh and of good quality but also sustainable. We hope that many continue with this example and we all collaborate for a more sustainable country ”.

editorial@seafood.media
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