SEAFOODNEWS.COM [SCOM] June 12, 2014 — Long John Silvers announced an endorsement of the BAP certified aquaculture practices today. The company, one of the largest foodservice buyers of shrimp, says that it will be adopting BAP certification as part of its sustainable seafood procurement policy.
The U.S. restaurant chain will work closely with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and its suppliers to ensure that its farmed seafood, when available, is sourced from a BAP-certified facility.
Long John Silver’s is the United States’ largest quick-service seafood chain, with more than 1,200 restaurants. The brand is owned by LJS Partners, a consortium of franchisees and investors based in Louisville, Ky.
“As a seafood restaurant leader, our mission is to promote seafood, and we are really focusing on sustainability,” said Marie Zhang, chief food innovation officer and senior VP of research and development, quality assurance and supply chain at Long John Silver’s. “We think we can work with GAA to promote sustainably farmed seafood that’s not just good quality but that’s also environmentally and socially responsible.”
Currently, all farmed shrimp sold at Long John Silver’s restaurants originate from BAP-certified farms in India and Ecuador, she said, and the partnership with GAA will help enable Long John Silver’s to secure only products sourced from BAP-certified farms. Zhang said she expects farmed seafood’s presence on Long John Silver’s menu to grow.
“With the addition of Long John Silver’s to the ever-expanding group of market endorsers, we are seeing the foodservice sector becoming much more active in the arena of responsible and sustainable seafood sourcing,” said Peter Redmond, BAP VP of market development. “We are very excited by this addition and commend the leadership of Long John Silver’s. We look forward to much more activity in the foodservice sector in 2014.”
In addition to being a market endorser, Long John Silver’s is joining GAA as a sustaining member.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.