Retailer Snapshot
Save-On Foods is committed to providing at least 50% Ocean Wise recommended fresh and frozen seafood (this commitment does not include canned or other shelf-stable seafood). As of May 2018, Save-On was exceeding this commitment by sourcing 72% Ocean Wise recommended fresh and frozen seafood. Additionally, Save-On is committed to sourcing 100% Ocean Wise recommended and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified farmed shrimp and prawns and 100% Ocean Wise recommended private-label frozen Pacific snapper (also called “rockfish”; goal does not include fresh products).
Tweet this retailer and let them know what you like – or don’t like – about their policy. For example:
Great to see on Seafood Progress that @SaveOnFoods exceeded its commitment to source >50% Ocean Wise recommended seafood! Next I'd like to see more labelling info on all products, like species name and production method #transparency Click To TweetSave-On Foods’ data collection program includes the scientific (Latin) name, country of origin, and gear type or farming method for all fresh, frozen and private label seafood they source. Although Save-On only labels some of its fresh or frozen seafood with this information, it is available upon request at the seafood counter for all Ocean Wise recommended products.
SeaChoice recommends Save-On works to improve its labelling policy by adding information such as scientific name and harvest method on more of its fresh and private label seafood products (including for products which are not Ocean Wise recommended). Similarly, SeaChoice recommends that Save-On builds on its transparent disclosure of progress against its sustainable seafood procurement commitment by publishing information about its product sourcing through initiatives such as the Ocean Disclosure Project.
In the process of developing this profile, SeaChoice corresponded with Shane Heasman, Meat & Seafood Development Specialist at Save-On Foods and Claire Li, Account Representative at Ocean Wise.
Step 1: Does the retailer have a comprehensive commitment on sustainable seafood?
Overall Step Score
Does the policy include time-bound objectives for addressing environmental issues, social concerns and traceability?
The step score is based on the average of Step 1 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
1.1 Has a publicly available commitment or policy to source more environmentally sustainable seafood
Scoring Rationale
Save-On achieved its commitment that over 50% of their fresh and frozen products would be Ocean Wise recommended in 2016. The commitment does not include canned products.
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy
- 25% General statement of commitment to sustainable seafood without clear objectives or timelines
- 50% Clear objective for sustainable procurement but no reference to standards and no timeline
- 75% Clear objective for sustainable procurement that references a standard with clear objectives but no timeline
- 100% Clear objective for sustainable procurement that references a standard with clear objectives and a timeline (or a timeline is not needed because objectives are already being met)
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods is committed to only sourcing socially sustainable seafood and is currently developing a supplier Code of Conduct which will include its seafood policy and its expectations of all its seafood suppliers. The Code should be implemented by December 2018 (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy
- 25% General statement or stance on social responsibility
- 50% Stance on social responsibility with reference to a credible international standard (e.g. the International Labour Organization, the UN's Universal Declaration on Human Rights, etc.)
- 75% Social responsibility commitment that references a credible standard with clear objectives OR actions or expectations made upon seafood suppliers
- 100% Social responsibility commitment that references a credible standard with clear objectives AND actions or expectations made upon seafood suppliers
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On is committed to providing full traceability information to consumers by request (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% No publicly available commitment or policy for traceability
- 33% General statement of commitment traceability without clear objectives or timelines
- 66% Clear traceability objectives but no timeline
- 100% Clear traceability objectives and timeline
- Scoring Rubric
Step 2: Is the retailer collecting data to support their commitment?
Overall Step Score
What information is the retailer collecting to monitor the environmental and social sustainability of their seafood products?
The step score is based on the average of Step 2 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
This data is collected for all fresh, frozen and private label products (personal communication, C. Li, 16/05/2018).
- 0% No data collected on species' scientific names (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on species' scientific names
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on species' scientific names
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
This data is collected for all fresh, frozen and private label products (personal communication, C. Li, 06/05/2018).
- 0% No data collected on country of origin (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on country of origin
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on country of origin
- Scoring Rubric
2.3 Retailer collects data on whether the seafood products being sold are wild or farmed - the "how"
Scoring Rationale
This data is collected for all fresh, frozen and private label products (personal communication, C. Li, 06/05/2018).
- 0% No data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on whether seafood products are wild or farmed
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
This data is collected for all fresh, frozen and private label products (personal communication, C. Li, 06/05/2018).
- 0% No data collected on gear type or farming methods (or no information available)
- 50% Some data collected on gear type or farming methods
- 100% Comprehensive data collected on gear type or farming methods
- Scoring Rubric
Step 3: Is the retailer making responsible sourcing decisions?
Overall Step Score
Are the retailer’s procurement decisions supporting their environmental and social sustainability commitments?
The step score is based on the average of Step 3 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods uses Ocean Wise recommendations to inform its procurement decisions.
- 0% No sustainabilty criteria used to inform purchasing decisions (or no information available)
- 100% Sustainability criteria used to inform purchasing decisions
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods has met and exceeded its commitment of sourcing at least 50% Ocean Wise recommended seafood products across their stores. As of May 2018, 72% of fresh, frozen and private label products were Ocean Wise.
- 0% Retailer did not demonstrate how much of their seafood sold meets their sustainability commitment (or no information available)
- 25% Retailer can demonstrate that 25% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 50% Retailer can demonstrate that 50% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 75% Retailer can demonstrate that 75% or more of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- 100% Retailer can demonstrate that 100% of their seafood products sold meets their sustainability commitment
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods is currently updating its supplier Code of Conduct to ensure common understanding of the company’s expectations around procurement of products in a socially responsible way (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% Retailer does not work with suppliers on social issues (or no information)
- 50% Retailer does some work with some suppliers on some social issues
- 100% Retailer is very active with suppliers in respect to social issues
- Scoring Rubric
Step 4: Is the retailer transparent about their commitment?
Overall Step Score
Is the retailer making information regarding the environmental and social performance of their seafood products publicly available and are they reporting on progress against their sustainable seafood commitment?
The step score is based on the average of Step 4 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Some frozen products are labelled with the species’ scientific (Latin) name. Some fresh and frozen products are labelled with country of origin and/or whether the seafood is wild or farmed.
Although this information is not available on most labels, it is available upon request for every Ocean Wise recommended product (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- Scientific (Latin name)
- Country of origin
- Wild or farmed
- Gear type or farming method
- 0% Retailer does not label products with the information (or no information)
- 50% Retailer labels some products with the information
- 100% Retailer labels all products with the information
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods uses the Ocean Wise logo on Ocean Wise recommended products.
- 0% Retailer does not label seafood with applicable eco-labels (or no information)
- 100% Retailer labels seafood with eco-labels as applicable
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods has this information and it is available to consumers at point of sale but it is not published (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% No product procurement information has been made available (or no information)
- 50% Some seafood product procurement information (such as region and gear types) has been made available
- 100% All seafood product procurement information (including region and gear types) has been made available
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods is monitoring and disclosing its progress against its commitment to source at least 50% Ocean Wise recommended products. At the end of 2015, 64% of products were Ocean Wise recommended, and as of May 2018, this had increased to 72%.
- 0% No public information on how the retailer is doing to meet their commitment
- 50% Retailer has at one point in the past reported publicly how much of their seafood sold meets their commitment by volume/value
- 100% Retailer regularly (at least every two years) reports publicly how much of their seafood sold meets their commitment by volume/value
- Scoring Rubric
Step 5: Does the retailer educate staff, customers and/or vendors about the importance of their commitment to sustainable seafood?
Overall Step Score
Is the retailer educating their employees, customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders about their sustainable seafood commitment, environmental and social issues in seafood, and the importance of traceability?
The step score is based on the average of Step 5 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods has a mandatory training course for all staff working with seafood. Staff must score at least 85% on the training module to work at Save-On’s seafood counter. Staff are also sent updated information on Save-On’s seafood sustainability policy regularly (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% Training programs not conducted for seafood staff (or no information)
- 50% Training programs are sometimes conducted, or are available only for some seafood staff
- 75% Training programs are conducted for all seafood staff, but infrequently (less than every two years)
- 100% Training programs are regularly (at least every two years) conducted for all seafood staff
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
There is at least a general description of Save-On’s commitment to sustainable seafood and information on the Ocean Wise Seafood Program in all stores, and some stores have more detailed information posted about Save-On’s sustainable seafood commitment and goals (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% There is no description of the sustainable seafood program in store (or no information)
- 50% This is some description of the sustainable seafood program in store
- 100% There is a comprehensive description of the sustainable seafood program in store
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
All of Save-On’s seafood suppliers abide by Codes of Conduct that are in keeping with Save-On’s sustainable seafood commitments (personal communication, S. Heasman, 16/05/2018).
- 0% Suppliers do not have to sign a Code of Conduct in relation to the retailer's seafood policy (or no information)
- 25% Some suppliers are required to sign a Code of Conduct that covers some of the retailer's seafood policy
- 50% All suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers some of the retailer's seafood policy
- 75% Major suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers all of the retailer's seafood policy
- 100% All suppliers must sign a Code of Conduct that covers all of the retailer's seafood policy
- Scoring Rubric
Step 6: Does the retailer support improvements in fisheries and aquaculture?
Overall Step Score
Does the retailer sell ‘Priority Seafood’ products (products that have high volume of sales in Canadian retail stores and are generally not recommended by the Ocean Wise Seafood Program) or SeaChoice Priority Species (species that enter the supply chain via Canadian fisheries and aquaculture operations with significant sustainability challenges). And if so, do they support improvement and how?
The step score is based on the average of Step 6 key performance indicators (step elements) listed below; click the + signs for more detailed information.
Step Elements
Scoring Rationale
Save-On prioritizes sourcing sustainably harvested wild salmon species and less than 5% of the salmon it sells is farmed (personal communication, S. Heasman, 17/05/2018).
- Doesn't sell product or only sells products that are "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or ranked "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for farming methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve farming practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from farms that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from farms that are ASC certified
- 0% Sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
As of April 2018, Save-On Foods announced that all the farmed shrimp and prawns it sells are Ocean Wise recommended and ASC certified.
- Doesn't sell product or only sells products that are "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or ranked "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for farming methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve farming practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from farms that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from farms that are ASC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On is not currently engaged in any actions to support improvements in the production of skipjack tuna.
- Doesn't sell product or only sells products that are "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or ranked "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch (100 pts)
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for harvest methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve fishing practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are MSC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities or doesn't sell the product
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods’ highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species is Pacific rockfish. All of Save-On’s Western Family brand (frozen) rockfish is recommended by Ocean Wise and is MSC certified, but sources of fresh rockfish may or may not be certified or Ocean Wise recommended (personal communication, S. Heasman and C. Li, 16/05/2018).
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for harvest methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve fishing practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are MSC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities
- Scoring Rubric
Scoring Rationale
Save-On Foods’ second-highest selling SeaChoice Priority Species is Atlantic herring. Save-On preferentially sources Ocean Wise recommended Atlantic herring (personal communication, S. Heasman and C. Li, 16/05/2018).
- Outreach to policymakers to advocate for harvest methods and management to be more environmentally sustainable.
- Is taking action either pre-competitively or independently to influence suppliers or producers to improve fishing practices
- Refrains from advertising the product
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are either "Recommended" by Ocean Wise or rank as a "Best Choice" (Green) by Seafood Watch
- Preferentially sources from fisheries that are MSC certified
- 0% Retailer sells the product and does not support improvements by doing any of the actions listed or no information available
- 20% Retailer is engaged in one action to support improvement
- 40% Retailer is engaged in two actions to support improvement
- 60% Retailer is engaged in three actions to support improvement
- 80% Retailer is engaged in four actions to support improvement
- 100% Retailer is engaged in all support improvement activities
- Scoring Rubric
Save-On Foods
Location
Across Western Canada and the Yukon
Number of Stores
165
Gross Revenue
Over $4 billion in sales
Sustainable Seafood Policy
