Lidl, one of the largest German retailers, has introduced a range of seven frozen and one smoked fish products carrying the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) blue eco-label.
The company has initially introduced the products to its 3,000 stores in Germany and Austria and intends to grow this range and extend its use of the eco-label into other European countries. Lidl is also committed to encouraging its supply fisheries to seek certification to the MSC's environmental standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.
'Lidl's launch of several new MSC-labelled products will provide millions of consumers with the opportunity to reward well managed and sustainable fisheries through their purchasing decisions and to contribute to securing the future and health of the marine environment. Sustainably caught seafood can be offered at affordable prices - Lidl is a great example for this and we are looking forward to working with the company as more products are developed,' says Rupert Howes, Chief Executive of the MSC.
While over 450 products in retail chains in 25 countries carry the MSC mark, Lidl is the first discounter to do so. The new MSC line has been produced under the company's private labels 'Ocean Trader' and 'Ocean Sea'. The range consists of seven products made of Alaska pollock and one made of Alaska salmon. Fisheries targeting both species have been identified by independent experts as meeting the MSC's rigorous environmental standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.
