Starting on 27 February, Kaufland will become the first German retailer in the country to introduce salmon fed on a diet containing Veramaris’ natural marine algal oil, according to a company press release.
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, the salmon will be sold under Kaufland’s own K-Blue Bay brand. Veramaris Global Business Development Director Gaëlle Husser said the decision to sell the salmon nourished with the firm’s algal oil is sweeping retail across Europe.
“Kaufland’s decision to introduce salmon fed on Veramaris’ algal oil comes quickly after similar moves by a number of other European supermarkets, including Supermarché Match in France, which has introduced salmon and just recently also trout raised on a diet including Veramaris,” Husser said. “In France, Match saw a 12 percent growth in its salmon category following the introduction of the sustainable salmon, a clear indication that consumers are demanding fish that is nutritionally superior and sustainably raised.”
Husser was speaking of the recent market introduction of Truite Service trout raised on Veramaris algal oil.
Kaufland Germany aims to help in the reduction of the volume of wild fish used in feeds, and its partnership with Veramaris supports that goal, explained Kaufland Germany Head of Purchasing Andreas Schopper.
“Our common goal with Veramaris is to reduce the amount of wild fish used in feed to less than one kilogram for the production of one kilogram of salmon,” Schopper said.
Veramaris’ natural marine algal oil for farmed fish diets “can increase the levels of both of the two essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in fish, while at the same time reducing the Forage Fish Dependency Ratio (FDDR),” the aquafeed company noted. Veramaris recently opened a USD 200 million (EUR 184 million) production facility in Blair, Nebraska, which has allowed for the commercial-scale production of the algal oil used in its feed.
German consumers will be able to purchase K-Blue Bay salmon in Kaufland stores starting tomorrow, 27 February.
Seafood sustainability has been an active focus for Kaufland for over 10 years. The retailer has a 100-percent certified private label assortment and is committed to improving animal welfare standards in aquaculture, an effort regarded as "excellent" by Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund.
Photo courtesy of Kaufland
