Sainsbury’s was awarded a ‘double win’ for MSC UK Supermarket of the Year and ASC UK Retailer of the Year at last night’s Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) UK annual awards ceremony – marking Sainsbury's 8th win in an MSC retailer award category and the second year Sainsbury’s has won both top prizes.

With a commitment to source 100% ASC-certified farmed seafood, Sainsbury’s won the ASC UK Retailer of the Year award for the third year in a row.

Dave Parker, Head of Fisheries and Aquaculture at Sainsbury’s, said: “These awards are a huge credit to the team because we talk about how we can source seafood more sustainably every single day. It means what we’re doing is genuinely being noticed and is meaningful. When you win something twice it gives you confidence that you are on the right path and makes us even hungrier to win again and we have huge plans for fish.” 

Iceland scored its first win in a retailer awards category, scooping up the Silver MSC UK award, with the Bronze award going to Lidl, a testament to their long-standing commitment to MSC and their shoppers. Tesco became the latest supermarket to win the prestigious MSC UK Product of the Year for its Tesco Finest Cornish Sardines in Tomato Sauce. In a first for the category, the award was determined by a hugely popular public vote, which has further increased the visibility of MSC, the shortlisted products for the award and the work the organisation does in sustainable fishing. 

The MSC and ASC UK 2024 Awards, sponsored by Seafood Scotland, Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Gin, were held as a celebration of the commitment to sustainable seafood and responsible aquaculture across the whole supply chain from ocean to plate. 

George Clark, MSC UK & Ireland Programme Director, said: “It’s fantastic to gather together in Plymouth once again this year, to celebrate the major achievements in sustainable seafood over the past year. From the fishing sector who land the catch, up through the supply chain to the brands and retailers making commitments to source only from sustainable fisheries and ASC-certified fish farms and provide to their customers, our award winners tonight really are demonstrating excellence in the sector.

“Everyone that catches, buys, sells, promotes or supports certified sustainable fish and seafood can engage with the MSC UK Awards, and we’re hoping these award winners encourage others to aim for the same high bar in the year ahead.”

Winners were announced at a ceremony last night in Plymouth’s major award-winning museum, art gallery and archive, The Box, and hosted by London-based Scottish comedian and environmental economist, Dr Matt Winning.  

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Tudor Evans OBE welcomed guests to the awards saying he was delighted to host the flagship awards at The Box.

“Fishing is very important to us as a Council and to me personally,” he said. “The Council have been very proactive over the past ten years, taking time to get to know the industry and we have collaborated on a wide variety of initiatives. Fishing is an integral part of our local economy. 

“These awards bring stakeholders together to celebrate excellence in sustainable fishing and seafood. And I would like to thank all those who have attended from across the Seafood business and wider sustainability spectrum; from key retailers to brands, foodservice businesses, suppliers, NGOs. Thank you for coming to Britain’s Ocean City.”

The ASC crowned Lyons for ASC UK Retail Supplier of the Year and Fish Said Fred for ASC UK Brand of the Year, with the New England Seafood-owned brand being 100% MSC and ASC certified.

Maud van den Haspel, ASC General Manager for the UK and Benelux, said: “The ASC awards are a fantastic opportunity for us to acknowledge and reward the hard work that our winning partners have put in over the past year to offer a growing range of ASC labelled seafood to seafood lovers in the UK.” 

Other notable wins were Princes scooping MSC UK Seafood Brand of the Year for the remarkable progress they have made over the past year in meeting their commitment to introduce the MSC label onto their entire tuna range by 2025. Meanwhile, Ocado won MSC UK Online Brand of the Year for the work they’ve done to empower their customers to make sustainable choices when buying their seafood. 

Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group (SSMG) were crowned Retail Supplier of the Year, due to their work with major UK retailer Asda in helping to introduce a third MSC labelled mussel product and expanding the retailer’s MSC certified shellfish range.

The MSC is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised, science-based standards for sustainable fishing and assurance in the seafood supply chain. 

ASC is driving the world’s leading certification programme for responsibly farmed seafood. In 2024, demand for ASC labelled seafood across the UK continued to grow. There are now 744 ASC labelled products available across the UK – a 17% increase since October 2023.