Translations Best practice in French version Best practice in English version

The AUCHAN fish department is committed to more responsible trading

4. Environment

Biodiversity and sustainable resource management

Context

According to the FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization), almost one quarter of world fish stocks are overexploited or even depleted; oceans have lost 50 to 90% of stocks of species most popular with consumers. At the same time, the world demand is on the rise.

In France, 70% sea products are distributed in hypermarkets and supermarkets. AUCHAN is one of the top-ranking players in this market, with over 40,000 tonnes marketed each year, which represents a 13.8% market share.   

Objectives

- Taking action (within the limits of its action zone) to promote alternatives by developing new more sustainable supply and consumption modes

APPROACH

The group is committed to taking 8 concrete actions:
-To offer certain species (sole, turbot, brill, plaice, lemon sole, dab…) with sizes higher than standards set by European regulations to attain, or even exceed the size needed for reproduction,
- Not to market any more wild bass caught during reproduction periods (from December to March),
- To promise to sell products from the trout and salmon “industry”, to provide guaranties in terms of nutrition, respect of animals and preservation of the environment,
- To encourage the consumption of sustainable productions – e.g. oysters and mussels mainly produced along the coasts of France, in compliance with traditions and with a view to preserving the sea environment,
- To promote new fish farming species with a low imprint on the environment – e.g.  tilapia from Brazil,
- To educate consumers to encourage them to take more “sustainable” consumption habits (posters around the stall and in all leaflets)

Not to sell anymore:
- Mediterranean blue fin tuna
- Endangered shark species in hypermarkets in all 12 countries where the Auchan group operates, including China and Taiwan, as well as in supermarkets
-  Eels in all its forms in France

In parallel to its commitments, the seafood aisle has referenced its first "Better Living Environment" product : shrimp from Madagascar. Its farming method is environmentally friendly and also socially responsible. Exclusively in French supermarkets, Auchan offers upstream contracts, guaranteeing a fixed sales price to fishermen (salmon and sardines).

Best Practice spotted in 2008 by World Forum Lille and uptdated in 2011 for its evolution.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Thanks to its long-standing commitments, and the quality of its products, the fish department is recognized by our customers and helps advance Auchan France. 

Benefits

- A sustainable access to the benefits of halieutic resources, in terms of quality, availability and prices without depleting  non-renewable resources

Workforce
60 570 (2014)
Turnover
16.2 milliards € TTC (2014)
Country
France

Mise à jour le 20/10/2016

Creative Commons Attribution This work by Réseau Alliances – World Forum Lille is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.