Co-op Strengthens Responsible Sourcing with Full Transition to ASC-Certified Aquaculture

Co-op Strengthens Responsible Sourcing with Full Transition to ASC-Certified Aquaculture

(IN BRIEF) The Co-op has committed to ensuring that all its standard own-brand fresh and frozen farmed seafood becomes ASC-certified by 2027, marking a major milestone in its sustainability agenda. The ASC label, recognised worldwide for responsible aquaculture, guarantees high standards of fish welfare, environmental protection, and community responsibility. The first ASC-certified Co-op seabass is already in stores, with the remaining 18 seafood lines to follow within 15 months. This transition builds on Co-op’s existing partnerships with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild seafood and RSPCA Assured for premium Scottish salmon. Sam Darley of Co-op and Lief Hendrikz of the ASC both praised the initiative as a positive example of leadership in sustainable retailing and consumer transparency.

(PRESS RELEASE) MANCHESTER, 10-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Co-op has announced a significant step in its sustainability journey, pledging that 100% of its standard own-brand fresh and frozen farmed seafood range will be Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified by 2027. The move strengthens the retailer’s long-standing commitment to responsible sourcing, transparency, and traceability within its seafood supply chain.

The ASC certification is an internationally recognised benchmark for responsible aquaculture, ensuring that farmed seafood is produced in ways that protect fish welfare, safeguard ecosystems, and respect the livelihoods of surrounding communities.

As part of this transition, Co-op’s own-brand fresh seabass has become the first product in its range to carry the ASC logo, now available in stores nationwide. The retailer will roll out the remaining 18 products in its standard farmed seafood range — including popular lines such as smoked salmon and whole prawns — over the next 15 months.

This initiative forms part of Co-op’s broader strategy to enhance accountability and sustainability across its seafood sourcing operations. It builds on the retailer’s long-term partnerships with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for wild-caught seafood and RSPCA Assured for its premium Scottish salmon range, both of which demonstrate Co-op’s leadership in ethical food standards.

Sam Darley, Fisheries and Agriculture Compliance Manager at Co-op, said:
“Offering high-quality, responsibly sourced seafood is central to our role as a sustainable retailer. Moving 100% of our farmed fish to ASC certification by 2027 reinforces the rigorous standards we’ve upheld since 2008 — ensuring that every product on our shelves comes from farms and fisheries managed with care for the marine environment.”

Lief Hendrikz, Market Development Manager for UK & Ireland at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, added:
“We congratulate Co-op on this ambitious commitment. Retailers like Co-op play a vital role in helping consumers make responsible choices and in driving meaningful progress across the aquaculture industry. Their move to 100% ASC-certified farmed seafood is a major step forward in making sustainable options more accessible to UK shoppers.”

The Co-op’s announcement underscores its position as a pioneer in ethical retailing and its ongoing dedication to sustainable food systems. Customers can learn more about Co-op’s seafood sourcing and range through its online sustainability platform.

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact the PR team on:

Lauren Chambers
PR Lead – Co-op Food
07595567282
Lauren.chambers@coop.co.uk

SOURCE: Co-operative Group Limited