Wegmans' Salamone to Tackle Sustainable Seafood

Wegmans Food Markets is casting a wider net with its commitment to sustainable seafood with the elevation of 47-year veteran Carl Salamone, most recently VP of seafood merchandising, to the newly created position of VP of seafood sustainability.

Dave Wagner, a 25-year Wegmans vet, has been promoted to succeed Salamone as VP of seafood merchandising at the Rochester, N.Y.-based regional retailer.

“I’ve spent a good portion of my career working with fishermen from all over the world,” explained Salamone. “I’ve celebrated their successes and witnessed their challenges. I’m excited to now work with the industry to help identify ways to protect and defend our oceans, rivers and lakes. I’m hopeful that even small steps forward will help create greater job security for the fishermen and food security for the world.”

For the past six years, Wegmans’ sustainability manager, Jason Wadsworth, has coordinated the company’s efforts focusing on carbon footprint, packaging, recycling and sustainable sourcing. Because seafood sustainability is such an important topic, Wegmans has been actively working to understand it for many years. Wadsworth sees this newly-added position as an opportunity for Salamone to focus exclusively on that area.

“I’m so fortunate to work for a company that recognizes its responsibility to its employees and customers and to the environment we all share,” said Salamone. “I’m really excited to use my 40 years of experience in seafood to do something I believe is necessary for the continuation of farmed and wild fish resources.”

With 81 stores in N.Y., Pa., N.J., Va., Md. and Mass., the family-owned Wegmans Food Markets is recognized as an industry leader and innovator.  Wegmans has been named one of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 16 consecutive years.  In 2013, Wegmans ranked # 5 on the list.