Scottish Sea Farms scoops double accolade from M&S in annual Plan A Awards

Scottish Sea Farms Ltd, sole supplier of LochmuirTM Salmon to Marks & Spencer was given double recognition  in M&S' annual Plan A awards ceremony which took place at the Royal Highland Show last week (24 June 2010), reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Scottish Sea Farms.

The Plan A Awards, now in the second year, were created to celebrate the important role suppliers play in working toward M&S commitments which include:  becoming carbon neutral, sending no waste to landfill, extending sustainable sourcing,  setting new standards in ethical trading and helping customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle. 

David Duffy (31) newly appointed site manager at Dunstaffnage Farm near Oban picked up first prize in the Plan A ‘Future of Farming' category. David joined Scottish Sea Farms 16 years ago on leaving school.

David, as acting manager, introduced a wide range of initiatives that support the ethos and development of LochmuirTM Salmon. His focus on quality, innovation, leadership and the responsibility of managing a LochmuirTM farm in an environmentally sustainable manner resulted in him being selected from M&S' Scottish farming supply base as ‘best of the best'.

David said: "I am delighted to have received this award, the team at Dunstaffnage work very hard and are proud to produce LochmuirTM Salmon for M&S. It's been great to meet the fish team at the Highland show and know more about what happens to our salmon when they leave SSF."

Scottish Sea Farms was given a further accolade at the awards as David Brown, Sea Farms biologist based in Scalloway in Shetland was awarded a special recognition prize in the M&S ‘Plan A in Action' category. 

David was presented with the prize because of his lead in an innovative project encompassing many Plan A initiatives.  Working with a local Shetland Community project, David has spear-headed an initiative where feed pipes from SSF farms in Shetland are recycled and used to build community poly tunnels allowing local communities to grow fruits and vegetables for their own consumption. This initiative not only reduces landfill but gives communities the ability to grow their own produce delivering a wide range of health, environmental and social benefits to the local communities.

Jim Gallagher Managing Director of SSF said: "Marks & Spencer expect the highest standards from its suppliers and it is very gratifying that an aquaculture company can be recognised alongside more main stream agriculture businesses, David and David represent a group of young and progressive people who are the future of this industry." 

Launched in 2007, Plan A is M&S's five-year plan to tackle the biggest challenges facing its business and the world through five pillars: climate change, waste, sustainable raw materials, fair partner and health.  Earlier this year M&S launched Plan A version 2 and set the objective  to be the world's most sustainable retailer by 2015 along with 80 major new commitments under the retailer's eco and ethical plan.