Top US award for Arctic Circle salmon farmer
THE US multinational supermarket chain has voted the Norwegian salmon farmer Kvarøy Arctic the global winner of its “Perishables Supplier of the Year” awards.
The ninth annual awards recognised 42 suppliers and were selected by buyers, category experts and other leaders within Whole Foods Market, which is based in Austin, Texas. It sells products free from hydrogenated fats and artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives
The Supplier of the Year award is designed for Whole Foods Market suppliers that rise to the top in overall excellence. Kvarøy Arctic earned the Global Winner award in the Perishables category alongside FoodMatch for the Culinary Supplier category and exclusively for the Centre Store category.
Kvarøy Arctic is a third-generation Atlantic salmon farming company on the Arctic Circle Island of Kvarøy.
Led by CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen, Production Manager Gjermund Olsen, and Operations Manager Håvard Olsen, the Kvarøy Arctic team is ushering in a new era of sustainability for salmon farming as a net producer of fish protein with a commitment to traceability and transparency through IBM blockchain technology.
Among its proud boasts is that it uses no chemical, pesticides or antibiotics in its salmon production
Since its launch in March last year Kvarøy Arctic has supplied fresh sustainably raised Atlantic salmon to Whole Foods Market locations across the United States.
Kvarøy Arctic CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen, said: “We are deeply grateful for this recognition from Whole Foods Market.
“In a year that brought so many unusual challenges to our supply chain, this award is even more meaningful. It’s an honuor that is shared with our entire team as they worked tirelessly to tackle issues head-on in order to have uninterrupted delivery during a time when transportation and cargo were unpredictable.”
Whole Foods Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Gafsi Oblisk added: “It is Whole Foods Market’s honour to celebrate our suppliers who have demonstrated fantastic cooperation, resilience, creativity and commitment to quality, rising to excellence in a year unlike any other.”
