The Global Aquaculture Alliance has added another company to the growing list of retailers, foodservice operators and distributors that have adopted GAA’s Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification for farmed seafood.
Wakefern Food Corp. recently confirmed its commitment to the BAP program and will work with its suppliers to meet sustainability goals through BAP certification at both the farm and processor levels.
Wakefern, the United States’ largest retailer-owned cooperative, is comprised of 47 member companies that own and operate retail supermarkets under the ShopRite banner. With retail locations in six U.S. states, the Wakefern cooperative reaches into the New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland markets. The company also has plans in place to require feed and hatchery certification.
Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on global performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain – farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills – to ensure production through environmentally and socially responsible means.
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is proud to add Wakefern to the ever-expanding list of companies that are taking a role in changing the course of aquaculture production around the world.
“Our BAP standards program is a manifestation of how the marketplace can make a positive difference on a global scale,” Peter Redmond, GAA vice president of global market development, said. “The growth of sustainable aquaculture is at the heart of GAA, and every endorsement of our standards gives us increased comfort with the future of aquaculture.”
Wakefern is committed to providing its ShopRite customers with seafood that is sustainably sourced,” said Karen Meleta, vice president of consumer and corporate communications for Wakefern Food Corp. “Participating in the BAP program provides us with the assurance that our farm-raised seafood suppliers are employing environmentally and socially responsible practices.”
About BAP
Best Aquaculture Practices is an international certification program based on achievable, science-based and continuously improved global performance standards for the entire aquaculture supply chain – farms, hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills – that assure healthful foods produced through environmentally and socially responsible means. For more information on BAP, visit www.gaalliance.org/bap/.
About Wakefern Food Corp.
From a small cooperative of eight grocery store owners, Wakefern Food Corp. has grown into the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States. Its 47 members today individually own and operate more than 230 supermarkets under the ShopRite banner in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. In addition, Wakefern has 45 PriceRite stores in five states. Wakefern also distributes products to other supermarkets throughout the northeastern United States and Bermuda. For more information, please visit www.wakefern.com.
Source: The Global Aquaculture Alliance
