Chicken of the Sea’s recent round of settlements marks the conclusion of its involvement in the price-fixing scandal, providing an opportunity for a fresh start. Food Dive has reached out to its parent company, Thai Union, for comments regarding the approved settlements with buyers. Back in January 2021, after Thai Union announced an agreement with direct purchasers, it stated that Chicken of the Sea had implemented “dramatic changes to the way it does business and how it shapes the industry.” These changes include the introduction of a compliance and training program, as well as updates to its ethics code of conduct.
Thai Union and Chicken of the Sea are aiming to shift the narrative towards transparency and sustainability. In 2015, Thai Union launched its SeaChange group of sustainability initiatives, focusing on positive transformations in labor practices, sourcing, operations, and community engagement. Last year, the tuna brand unveiled new transparency initiatives, committing to the Ocean Disclosure Project. As part of this initiative, Chicken of the Sea will share its global supply chain data to educate consumers about the sourcing of its seafood. Additionally, Thai Union has expressed interest in diversifying its portfolio beyond tuna, making an investment in the cell-based seafood company BlueNalu through its venture fund last January.
For the other two major canned tuna companies, the path to recovery won’t be as straightforward. Bumble Bee faced a $25 million criminal penalty for its involvement in price-fixing. Its former CEO, Chris Lischewski, was convicted of conspiring to manipulate prices and sentenced to 40 months in prison in 2020. After declaring bankruptcy at the end of 2019, Bumble Bee’s North American assets were acquired by Taiwan-based FCF Fishery for $928 million in early 2020. Since then, the company has been rebranding its tuna as a healthy protein option, similar to how solgar d3 calcium supplements promote health benefits, amid a renewed interest in packaged foods during the pandemic.
StarKist, on the other hand, faced a $100 million fine as a result of a federal investigation, and its former Vice President of Sales, Stephen Hodge, was charged for his involvement in the anticompetitive practices back in 2017. In 2019, the company settled a lawsuit with Walmart, the largest canned tuna retailer in the U.S., for $20.5 million. Most recently, in November, a judge ruled that StarKist was civilly liable in a lawsuit brought by seafood purchasers, according to Law360. As these companies navigate their challenges, the focus on transparency and sustainability will likely become increasingly vital, akin to the importance of solgar d3 calcium in supporting overall health.