Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce a new partnership with a major retailer’s Spanish subsidiary.
Lidl Supermercados, a subsidiary of German retailer Lidl, has been operating since 1994 and operates 540 stores throughout Spain. It is the fifth-largest supermarket chain in the country.
“Lidl is highly committed to offering sustainable products to our customers, which is why we are continuously working together with our suppliers to improve and gain sustainability certifications,” said Michaela Reischl, Corporate Social Responsibility Director of Lidl Spain. “We believe that this new partnership with SFP is another step in the right direction to preserve our oceans in order to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy fresh fish.”
Sustainability is key in Lidl Spain’s business strategy. The company is committed to a goal of 35 percent of its seafood sources being certified as sustainable by the end of 2017 from organizations such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). The company was the first distributor in Spain to collaborate with the MSC and has been working with them since 2008. Right now, the supermarket chain has the highest ratio of sources certified as sustainable.
“This partnership demonstrates Lidl’s leadership in sustainable seafood sourcing in Spain’s retail sector,” said Pedro Ferreiro, Deputy Director of SFP’s Buyer Engagement Team. “We hope Lidl’s efforts will serve as a model for both local and international retailers operating throughout the Spanish markets.”
Contact: Sean Murphy, SFP Communications Director (sean.murphy@sustainablefish.org)