Lidl Portugal is the first supermarket chain in Portugal to stock only sustainable origin cod, with the seal of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Portugal is the world's largest consumer of salted cod, accounting for 20% of the total fish consumed in the country. The Portuguese are especially fans of cod at Christmas, at an estimated consumption of around 25,000 tonnes.
However, due to intensive fishing, several populations of cod are in a state of overexploitation, so the ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) has recommended curbing the fishing of some populations.
The attribution of the MSC certification to Lidl Portugal’s cod range Três Velas means that the highest international standards of good practice for sustainability are respected and a demanding traceability from the boat to the plate is ensured.
Lidl is one of MSC's main trading partners worldwide and is at the forefront of introducing MSC certification in the Iberian region.
Lidl Portugal is supplied certified cod by Portuguese company Riberalves, a national leader in the sector and a world example in the cod industry. The factory has been certified according to the IFS Food standard, and processes certified raw material.
Lidl Portugal and Riberalves work together with both dry and wet cod. The production of the Três Velas brand currently accounts for about 20% of the total volume of cod produced by the company. In addition, Três Velas is exported via Lidl Portugal to markets such as Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
Recently, retailers Coop Switzerland and Carrefour also announced sustainable fishing initiatives.