Tesco and Sainsbury’s won top accolades at this year’s premier sustainable seafood awards at a gala ceremony in London last night, while Waitrose and Iceland both scooped two gongs each.
For the second year in a row, the Gold winner of the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) UK Supermarket of the Year Award was Tesco as Sainsbury’s took home the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s (ASC) UK Supermarket of the Year Award for the fifth year running.
Aldi was the MSC’s Silver supermarket winner while Iceland was honoured with Bronze. This was the first time all three – Gold, Silver and Bronze – MSC supermarket winners had more than 80% of their own brand wild fish and seafood range MSC certified – highlighting a strong commitment towards selling certified sustainable seafood products.
Two stalwarts of the sustainable seafood sector received recognition for their tireless dedication to the industry, at the ceremony at Fishmonger’s Hall. Su Cox, for her 35 years’ work in the Scottish salmon sector, was presented with the ASC Lifetime Achievement Award, while former Young’s boss Wynne Griffiths, CBE received the MSC UK Lifetime Achievement Award. Collecting the award from MSC chief executive Rupert Howes, Wynne paid tribute to the entire Young’s team and particularly Mike Parker, Young’s deputy chief executive at the time who was also a great MSC advocate and board member.
Natalie Smith, Head of Agriculture and Fisheries at Tesco, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised by the MSC again this year for our commitment to certified seafood. This reflects the dedication of our colleagues, suppliers and partners to supporting well-managed fisheries and healthy oceans, while giving our customers greater choice when it comes to certified seafood.”
Dave Parker, Head of Aquaculture and Fisheries at Sainsbury’s, said: “Winning this award for the fifth consecutive year is something we’re incredibly proud of. It reflects the dedication of our teams and suppliers, who work together to make ASC-certified seafood accessible to our customers. We’re committed to continuing that work and building on what we’ve achieved.”
More than 150 leaders of the UK sustainable seafood industry and aquaculture sector, were served a meal of MSC-certified tuna and hake and ASC-certified mussels and sea bream, curated by chef Mitch Tonks and his son Ben Tonks, Chef Patron of The Seahorse in Dartmouth. Mitch, founder of the Rockfish group of restaurants, collected the MSC UK Foodservice Champion of the Year Award for the business.
George Clark, Programme Director MSC UK and Ireland, said: “Year on year the UK’s retailers continue to increase the diversity and volume of sustainable fish and seafood on their shelves and in their fridges and freezers. Not only are the leading supermarkets making good on their commitments to offer customers almost exclusively certified products, they’re also getting increasingly creative with marketing that message. All of this year’s winners deserve huge credit for their efforts.”
Waitrose won both the MSC UK Fishmonger of the Year, a new award for both online and brick-and-mortar fishmongers, and the ASC UK Product of the Year, for its Kefalonian Sea Bass Fillets, which was voted for by members of the public.
The second of Iceland’s two awards was the MSC UK Marketing Campaign of the Year for the retailer’s compelling communication of its sustainability achievements, having reached 100% MSC certification across its own-label seafood range. The award also recognised its work on product innovation and promotion, as the first retailer to launch an MSC certified red shrimp product, during the MSC’s Sustainable Seafood September campaign.
For the third year running Princes was named MSC UK Seafood Brand of the Year in recognition of its sustained commitment to improve and enhance its sustainable seafood range, while Ocado was presented with MSC UK Online Brand of the Year, in part for upping its range of MSC labelled products by more than 10% and proactively pointing customers towards its Responsibly Sourced Seafood aisle.
Maud van den Haspel, ASC General Manager, UK & Benelux, said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, whose achievements demonstrate the leadership and commitment driving positive change across the UK farmed seafood sector. From retailers expanding their ASC-certified ranges and making certified seafood more accessible to shoppers, to brands, suppliers and farmers investing in long-term improvements, each is playing an important role in moving the industry forward.
“What is particularly encouraging is seeing both established leaders continuing to raise the bar and new businesses making ambitious commitments. Together, they are showing how collaboration across the supply chain can turn commitments into meaningful progress for people and the planet.”
Co-op went home with the ASC UK Newcomer of the Year for making strong progress towards its target of 100% ASC-certified own-brand farmed seafood by 2027. MOWI, which now boasts 30 ASC-certified salmon farms in Scotland, scooped two awards on the night, for Farmer of the Year and Brand of the Year. The award for ASC UK Supplier of the Year went to New England Seafood.
Sam Darley, Fisheries and Aquaculture Manager at Co-op said, “Responsible sourcing is embedded in the way we work at Co-op, and we’re delighted to be recognised with this award as we continue to roll out the ASC sustainability label across 100% of our own-brand farmed seafood range by 2027.”
Among the other MSC awards, Italian brand Rio Mare won the consumer-voted Product of the Year award for its tuna in olive oil, part of its now eight-strong range of tuna products in UK supermarkets, all of which are now MSC labelled – up from just three in 2023. Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe won MSC Newcomer of the Year , while Flatfish Ltd triumphed in the MSC Retail Supplier of the Year category.
MSC welcomed Seafish CEO Colin Faulkner to its judging panel this year, with the industry body becoming the new lead supporting partner for the awards.
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