Waitrose scooped two awards in the Marine Stewardship Council’s annual awards this week – Fish Counter of the Year for the fourth year in a row and also Product of the Year, a newly introduced category, for its No 1 Yellowfin tuna which was launched in March. This was the first pre-pack chilled MSC yellowfin available in a UK retailer.
The annual awards, now in their 8th year, were streamed for a second-year running from the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth on October 7, 2021.
MSC UK ambassador, acclaimed restaurateur, chef and author, Mitch Tonks, was on the expert judging panel along with CJ Jackson, chief executive of Billingsgate Seafood School, Marcus Coleman chief executive of Seafish and Dr Eleanor Adamson, Fisheries Programme Manager at the Fishmongers’ Company.
Welcoming everyone to the awards, Loren Hiller, MSC UK & Ireland Commercial Manager, said: “In spite of another challenging year, Waitrose has demonstrated strong continued commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood. Our MSC UK Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate outstanding achievement and performance in sustainable fishing and seafood across the entire UK business spectrum. With new categories introduced this year, I am pleased that we are able to recognise Waitrose for supporting recently certified sustainable fisheries, and ensuring we have fish for future generations to come.
Andy Boulton, Senior Manager Aquaculture and Fisheries, from Waitrose, said: “We’re delighted to accept the award for Fish Counter of the Year for the fourth year in a row and extremely pleased that we have also been awarded the first ever MSC UK Product of the Year award for our MSC certified yellowfin tuna. We’re proud to have been the first UK retailer to launch MSC certified chilled pre-pack yellowfin tuna in March this year.
“The blue MSC ecolabel on our counters not only helps our customers identify sustainable fish and seafood, but also recognises and rewards efforts made by fishermen to ensure our oceans remain healthy. We’re always looking for new MSC certified species to add to our counter and are proud of our more recent additions to the counters.”
The winners’ award was once again designed and manufactured using 3D printing by Cornish-based J Supplied 3D. It will be made in collaboration with Fishy Filaments, who recycle fishing nets from the MSC certified hake fishery in Cornwall into engineering grade nylon filament. Fishy Filaments’ innovative harbour-side recycling technology was invented in Cornwall and saves about 98% of carbon emissions when compared to using equivalent virgin material. MSC will be unveiling the unique awards on the day in October, which will be designed by local artist Charlotte Dawe.
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