ROSEMONT, Ill. – US Foods, one of the country's most innovative food companies and leading distributors today announced certification to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody Standard. The MSC is recognized as the world’s leading certification program for sustainable, wild-caught seafood.
MSC Chain of Custody certification assures that in every step of the chain – from the fisherman, to the processor, to the distributor and the end user – MSC certified seafood is not mixed with or substituted for non-certified seafood. MSC Chain of Custody certification ensures that seafood products that carry the blue MSC ecolabel can be traced back to a fishery that has been certified as sustainable and well-managed against the global, science-based MSC Standard.
“Ensuring the integrity of the seafood we deliver is important to US Foods and to our customers,” said Steve Guberman, chief merchandising officer, US Foods. “We are pleased to be the first nationwide foodservice distributor to certify all our locations to the MSC Chain of Custody Standard. This certification is just another way to show our commitment to becoming a leader of sustainable foods in the industry.”
The MSC Chain of Custody certification underscores the company’s commitment to customers, to strengthening communities and helping to safeguard the environment. By offering certified sustainable foods and supplies with integrity, US Foods is helping customers to make easier and more sustainable menu choices. This certification along with additional internal programs is part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
“The MSC congratulates US Foods, one of the leading foodservice distributors in North America, on the achievement of attaining MSC certification and offering sustainable, wild-caught seafood to consumers nationwide,” said Geoff Bolan, MSC’s U.S. Program Director. “Their commitment to sustainable seafood demonstrates US Foods’ leadership in the food service industry.”
About US Foods
As one of America’s great food companies and leading distributors, US Foods is Keeping Kitchens Cooking™ and making life easier for customers, including independent and multi-unit restaurants, healthcare and hospitality entities, government and educational institutions. With approximately $22 billion in annual revenue, the company offers more than 350,000 products, including high-quality, exclusive brands such as the innovative Chef’s Line®, a time-saving, chef-inspired line of scratch-quality products, and Rykoff Sexton®, a premium line of specialty ingredients sourced from around the world. The company proudly employs approximately 25,000 people in more than 60 locations nationwide. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and jointly owned by affiliates of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. Discover more at www.usfoods.com.
About Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organization. The MSC vision is for the world’s oceans to be teeming with life, and seafood supplies safeguarded for this and future generations. The ecolabel and certification program recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing practices and is helping create a more sustainable seafood market.
The MSC ecolabel on a seafood product means that:
- It comes from a wild-catch fishery which has been independently certified to the MSC’s science-based standard for environmentally sustainable fishing.
- It’s fully traceable to a sustainable source.
More than 260 fisheries in over 35 countries are certified to the MSC’s Standard. These fisheries have a combined annual seafood production of almost nine million metric tons, representing close to 10% of annual global yields. More than 28,000 seafood products worldwide carry the MSC ecolabel. For more information visit www.msc.org.
Source: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
