Albertsons 1st Big Retailer to Sell Fair Trade Scallops

Albertsons Cos. has expanded its Fair Trade Certified seafood program and its commitment to responsible sourcing by becoming the first major grocer to offer Fair Trade Certified scallops.

The new frozen product, Santa Monica Seafood Signature Sea Scallops, sourced from the port of New Bedford, Mass., is currently available at Southern California Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores, and will arrive at Northern California Safeway stores this summer.

“Albertsons Cos. takes our commitment to socially and environmentally responsible seafood seriously,” said Buster Houston, group director of seafood at the Boise, Idaho-based company. “By providing Fair Trade Certified seafood, we are able to support the domestic industry, provide our customers with the highest-quality product, and support the health of ocean ecosystems and communities that depend upon them.”

As with all Fair Trade Certified products, the producers of Santa Monica Seafood’s scallops receive a community development premium — 10 percent of the dockside price — that they can collectively invest in community projects.

In 2015, Albertsons Cos. became the world’s first retailer to carry Fair Trade Certified seafood, with the debut of Fair Trade yellowfin tuna from Indonesia. Albertsons Cos.’ seafood also meets the stringent standards set by its Responsible Seafood Policy, created with Santa Cruz, Calif.-based nonprofit sustainable-seafood consultancy FishWise. Under the grocer's pioneering Responsible Choice initiative, seafood labeled "Responsible Choice" has been favorably rated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program, or is sourced from fisheries or farms that are making measurable and time-bound improvements.

Albertsons operates stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 19 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs.