Robert Fields of Sam’s Club has joined the board of directors of the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), the world’s leading standards-setting organization for aquaculture seafood, GAA announced in early January.
Fields is senior director for fresh meat, seafood and gourmet deli at Sam’s Club. A division of Walmart, Sam’s Club is a leading membership club store chain, with locations in the United States, Mexico, Brazil and China. Fields is a former director of meat and seafood at the Kroger Co., a major U.S. supermarket company.
“I look forward to working with the GAA board on charting a course for greater aquaculture sustainability, which is critical if we’re to meet the food needs of the world’s growing population,” said Fields. “I also look forward to providing insight to the GAA board as a member of retail community on matters such as consumer education.”
Added GAA Executive Director Wally Stevens, “Bob Fields as an individual, and Walmart/Sam’s Club as a retailer, have been in the forefront on issues of sustainability, including aquaculture production. We are pleased that we will have his perspective as a board member on the issues facing our industry.”
There are 20 members of the GAA board of directors. Each member serves a two-year term.
Mike Berthet, director of fish and seafood for M&J Seafood, the United Kingdom’s largest independent seafood supplier, joined the GAA board in November. The addition of Fields and Berthet gives the GAA board greater representation from the retail and foodservice sectors, respectively.
About GAA
The Global Aquaculture Alliance is an international, non-profit trade association whose Best Aquaculture Practices program provides comprehensive, metrics-based certification for aquaculture facilities — including farms, hatcheries, feed mills and processing plants.
Source: Global Aquaculture Alliance
