As of today, consumers in Iceland will be able to buy fish products bearing the MSC label. Icelandic production company Akraborg has introduced MSC labelled canned cod liver to the Icelandic consumer market for the first time. The product comes under the Icelandic ORA brand, which has served the Icelanders and global markets more than half a century of first class products and earned a solid place in the Icelandic food culture.
Over 18.000 MSC labelled products around the globe
The very first MSC product was launched back in 2000 in the United Kingdom. Today more than 13,000 MSC labelled products are on sale in-store to shoppers worldwide and can be traced back to the MSC certified sustainable fisheries. In total over 18,000 products are on sale with the MSC ecolabel, which is found on a variety of in-store, wholesale and foodservice seafood products.
Increasing demand for MSC certified products
Rolf Hákon Arnarson, General Manager of Akraborg says: “MSC certification was a big step for us towards our international markets were demand for MSC certified products has increased steadily in the last few years. We are very happy to be able to extend our production of MSC certified products and offer them in the Icelandic market in co-operation with the good people at Ora.”
Serving Icelandic market with first MSC labelled product
Leifur Þórsson, Managing Director at Ora says: “Ora is serving the Icelandic market for canned product since 1952. We are pleased to launch the first Icelandic produced MSC labelled product for the consumer market in Iceland.”
A great accomplishment
Gísli Gíslason, MSC Senior Fisheries Outreach Manager in Iceland says: “For these MSC labelled products Akraborg has sourced from the MSC certified Icelandic cod fisheries. MSC labelled products are sold in 98 countries and from today Iceland can be added to that list.
Akraborg is the pioneer in Iceland producing MSC labelled canned cod liver for markets across the globe. It is also the first Icelandic company to produce MSC labelled consumer pack products for overseas markets. I am delighted that it is the now the first company to produce MSC labelled products specifically for the local market in Iceland. I congratulate Akraborg and Ora with this great accomplishment and will closely follow further developments.”
About Akraborg
Akraborg was established in the small Icelandic fishing town of Akranes in 1989. The company became a leading producer of premium quality canned cod liver, and has today become the largest manufacturer of its kind worldwide.Akraborg is devoted to an eco-friendly policy in all its operations. Managers monitor the development of national and international regulations on sustainable fisheries and fish processing.
Today Akraborg employs a staff of 30 people and turns out over 10 million cans of fish products a year.
About ORA Ltd.
ORA Ltd. products have become exceptionally popular in Iceland since its inception in 1952. Food of the company reaches Icelanders for more than half a century and some products have become an integral part of many daily mails.
ORA´s plant facility is 5000 square meters and processing takes place in very sophisticated processing halls which meet strict quality and hygiene standards. The plant also functions as a laboratory where quality control is strictly carried out.
The company produces for the domestic market and markets around the globe. Much emphasis has been placed on exports in recent years. Today, the export has become a very big part of the business and non-business market, no less important than the domestic. The company employs today 50 employees.
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