Pams reaches 100% responsibly sourced seafood milestone

On World Ocean Day, Foodstuffs’ private label Pams has announced a major milestone, with 100% of its seafood now responsibly and ethically sourced. 

The achievement marks the completion of a commitment made in 2020 as part of Foodstuffs' HereforNZ social promise, which set a goal for all private label seafood to meet responsible sourcing standards by the end of 2025. 

While all actively ranged products met the policy requirements by the end of 2025, one discontinued legacy product, Pams Mackerel, remained in the supply chain due to its long shelf life, following a 2024 decision to stop ranging the product because of overfishing concerns. 

The milestone applies across Foodstuffs' private label brands, including Pams, Pams Value, Pams Finest and Gilmours, covering products where seafood is the primary ingredient, from tuna and salmon to prawns, hoki and more. 

Foodstuffs Own Brands General Manager, Lisa Oldershaw says the milestone gives customers confidence that the Pams seafood products they buy at any PAK’nSAVE, New World or Four Square meet strong environmental and ethical standards. 

"Our customers expect us to make responsible choices when sourcing products, and that's exactly what this commitment was about," says Oldershaw. 

"Whether it's a can of tuna, a packet of prawns or battered fish for dinner, customers can be confident every Pams seafood product meets clear environmental standards for responsible sourcing." 

To meet the policy requirements, suppliers must hold recognised sustainability certifications, be able to trace seafood back to its source, and demonstrate action on key environmental issues such as bycatch and shark finning. 

Around 70% of Own Brands seafood products are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), with the remaining 30% certified through recognised programmes including the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). 

Oldershaw says the milestone reflects years of work by the Own Brands team and supplier partners. 

"This is the result of a lot of effort from our team and suppliers working together to lift standards across the range. 

"Our work isn’t done. Responsible sourcing is an ongoing commitment, and we'll continue working with suppliers to make sure our seafood products meet the standards our customers expect."