HOUSTON, Sept. 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY ) today announced an expanded commitment to improve the sustainability of its seafood procurement practices and standards through 2020, in collaboration with World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
As part of a previous 2015 sustainable seafood commitment with WWF, Sysco is now sourcing approximately 90 percent of its top 10 wild-caught Sysco Brand seafood species groups from fisheries that are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), in MSC full assessment, or engaged in a comprehensive fishery improvement project (FIP). Now all of Sysco’s Portico Brand wild-caught frozen cod, pollock, North American (cold water) lobster, haddock, salmon, scallops, halibut and flounder come from MSC-certified fisheries.
Today, Sysco is furthering its seafood commitment and work with WWF by increasing its offerings of responsibly-caught Portico and Sysco Brand seafood products to its customers. Specifically, Sysco is expanding its commitment described above to its top 15 wild-caught Sysco Brand seafood, and adding a new commitment to source its top five Sysco Brand aquaculture species from farms that are either certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), in ASC full assessment, in aquaculture improvement projects leading to ASC certification, and/or certified to a minimum two star rating on the Best Aquaculture Practices standards as defined by the Global Aquaculture Alliance. Sysco will preferentially source ASC-certified product when available.
In addition, Sysco is focusing on improving tuna sourcing by committing to source Sysco Brand canned and pouched tuna from fisheries that are MSC-certified, in MSC full assessment, in a comprehensive FIP, or showing International Seafood Sustainability Association membership.
Lastly, Sysco will seek to improve seafood traceability within its supply chain and participate in WWF’s Global Dialogue for Seafood Traceability.
“These new commitments underscore Sysco’s dedication to increased sourcing from sustainable fisheries, and increasingly enables us to deliver on our customers’ desire for sustainable seafood products,” said Catherine Kayser, Sysco’s vice president of corporate social responsibility.
Caroline Tippett, director of seafood engagement at WWF, added, “Efforts by Sysco and others to help fisheries and farms meet the standards of MSC and ASC are vital to the health of the oceans and the diverse life they support, including our own.”
About Sysco Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates approximately 200 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For fiscal year 2016 that ended July 2, 2016, the company generated sales of more than $50 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco .
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