Gorton's Seafood Wins Inaugural AIM Sustainability Award

GLOUCESTER, Mass., Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) has named Gorton's Seafood a winner of its inaugural AIM Sustainability Award for excellence in managing environmental stewardship, social well-being and economic prosperity in Massachusetts. Gorton's, the leader in frozen seafood, changed the temperature of their truckloads to significantly reduce the environmental impact of transporting their product to grocery stores.

After conducting extensive tests, Gorton's determined they could set their truckloads at minus one degree Fahrenheit instead of the traditional minus ten degrees Fahrenheit without reducing the quality or integrity of their product. Gorton's took a quality assurance group through the entire supply chain, demonstrating equipment and technological improvements and explaining their extensive study results, proving the temperature change maintained the highest quality of product.

Gorton's has seen an immediate impact: The nine degree change is saving approximately 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year. This is equivalent to removing 85 cars from the road or planting 696 trees per year.

"As a seafood industry leader located in America's oldest seaport, Gloucester, Massachusetts, we recognize that preserving our natural resources is not merely an option, it is a mandate," said Lisa Webb, Vice President of Supply Chain at Gorton's. "We are constantly analyzing ways in which we can raise our standards and do better for the oceans and environment while maintaining the highest quality of seafood delivered to our customers. Making the change to our truckloads' temperatures will, over time, make a huge positive impact."

The change is part of Gorton's broader sustainability program Trusted Catch™. Trusted Catch™ encompasses all of Gorton's sustainability initiatives, from sustainable seafood sourcing to other green efforts including a more efficient plant and distribution network. Gorton's works with partners to help preserve their resources for future generations. As part of that commitment to sustainability, Gorton's currently sources 97% of their wild-caught seafood from fisheries that are certified as sustainable by a third party.

Gorton's is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay program, and is a 2015 SmartWay Excellence Award recipient for exceptional environmental performance as demonstrated by their annual freight assessment and carbon tracking tool submissions. Additionally, Gorton's is engaged in an on-going partnership with the New England Aquarium, the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative, the Global Aquaculture Alliance, the Marine Stewardship Council, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the National Fisheries Institute.

AIM initiated its Sustainability Roundtable in 2011 to provide Massachusetts employers the opportunity to exchange sustainability best practices and hear from experts in the field. The inaugural AIM Sustainability Award winners were determined by a panel led by the Roundtable's co-chairs, Johanna Jobin, Director of Global EHS and Sustainability at Biogen, and James McCabe, Sustainability Manager, Global Operations Group, at Waters Corporation. The other 2016 winners are Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort; PeoplesBank; W.D. Crowls, Inc.; Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc.; and the Stop & Shop New England Division of Ahold USA. The six companies will be honored at a series of regional celebrations throughout Massachusetts in September and October.

About Gorton's Seafood 
Since 1849, Gorton's mission has been to help people everywhere enjoy the goodness of great seafood. Headquartered in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Gorton's is one of America's oldest companies, and continues to be the innovative leader in the frozen seafood industry. Gorton's full line of frozen seafood products includes Breaded and Battered Fish Sticks and Fillets, the new Gourmet Fillets, gluten-free Grilled Fillets, Shrimp Scampi, Breaded Butterfly and Popcorn Shrimp, and innovative product lines such as Skillet Crisp Tilapia and Simply Bake Fillets. Gorton's products are available nationwide in independent and chain grocery stores.

Gorton's proudly stands behind the promise that consumers can "Trust the Gorton's Fisherman" for the best-tasting, highest-quality seafood. The Gorton's Fisherman, in his yellow slicker and rain hat, embodies this commitment. For more information, please visit GoGortons.com or call 1-800-222-6846.

SOURCE Gorton's Seafood

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