Target pulls farmed salmon from its stores
By Associated Press
Thu, Jan 28 2010 at 5:00 PM EST
Read more: FISH
NO MORE: Target has pulled all farmed salmon as it tries to be more eco-conscious. (Photo: nataliemaynot/Flickr) Target Corp., the nation's second-largest discounter after Walmart said this week that it pulled all farmed salmon from its stores as it looks to be more environmentally conscious.
The retailer said it will no longer carry farmed salmon in its fresh, frozen or smoked seafood sections. The move impacts national brands and the chain's own Archer Farms and Market Pantry brands, which will now use wild-caught Alaskan salmon.
Target said sushi carried in its stores that currently use farm-raised salmon will switch to wild-caught salmon by year's end.
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Companies have increasingly shifted away from farmed salmon due to pressure by consumers and environmentalists, who want wild-caught salmon used because it can help preserve salmon levels as well as species health and doesn't hurt local habitats.
Salmon farms are viewed by these parties as hazardous due to the pollutants and chemicals they can emit as well as the potential dangers of farmed fish escaping and intruding on native salmon.
Target's salmon transition comes in the midst of its $1 billion store renovation project. The company, based in Minneapolis, will introduce a new store format starting in April that features spruced up home furnishing offerings, larger grocery sections, better video game displays and shelf lighting in the beauty section. The move, which impacts 340 U.S. stores, is aimed at increasing sales and profit and grabbing market share from rivals.
The retailer has 1,744 stores in 49 states.
Target's stock rose $1.25, or 2.5 percent, to $52.02. The shares hit a fresh 52-week high of $52.46 earlier in the session.
Copyright 2010 AP News
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Comments(3)
Posted By Meg L. - Mon, Feb 01 2010 at 10:14 AM ESTPressure on wild population?
How much farm-raised salmon did Target sell last year & how does that compare with what exists in current wild stocks? Aquatic farming was started to help relieve pressure on wild populations...
Posted By Elizabeth - Fri, Jan 29 2010 at 10:55 AM ESTWay to go Target
This makes me happy to read. Wild-caught salmon all the way.
Greenpeace paid $300,000 in Alaskan marketing campaign against f
When Greenpeace applauded Target for taking farmed salmon off of store shelves, what Greenpeace didn't say is that it was paid $300,000 by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
U.S. tax returns and the foundation's on-line database show that since 2000 the David and Lucile Packard foundation has granted more than $60 million to support the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and promote MSC-certified fish - most of which is Alaskan. This included $12.7 Million to get Wal-mart and other.... More