"Joining the NFI Sushi Council is a natural extension of our mission to deliver sushi responsibly," said Senior Vice President, Procurement & Supply Chain at Bento, Takako Kato.
Photo: Bento Inc. LinkedIn page.
Leading North American sushi provider Bento Inc. is the newest member of the U.S. National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Sushi Council, the precompetitive platform convening stakeholders from across the sushi supply chain in the United States to promote best practices, ensure product integrity, and serve as a unified voice for the industry.
"Bento's scale and commitment to responsible sourcing make them an invaluable addition to the NFI Sushi Council," Michael McNicholas, from Oddisea SuperFrozen and the Council Chairman, said about the new member. "Their expertise in both retail and foodservice channels brings important perspectives to our work in advancing best practices across the sushi supply chain," he added.
Renowned for its chef-crafted sushi, commitment to responsible sourcing, and dedication to enhancing the customer experience across grocery retail, institutional foodservice, and quick-service outlets, Bento is, as mentioned, one of the largest sushi companies in North America.
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, the Canadian company operates more than 500 sushi bars and supplies another 2,500 locations through its commissary model. Producing up to 30 million portions each year in Canada and the United States, it provides grab-and-go options and full-service sushi programs in supermarkets, universities, hospitals, and other foodservice segments.
"Joining the NFI Sushi Council is a natural extension of our mission to deliver sushi responsibly," said Takako Kato, Senior Vice President, Procurement & Supply Chain at Bento, commenting on the sushi company's joining the food safety coalition.
"We are committed to ensuring every roll, nigiri, and poke bowl we make meets the highest standards for food safety, quality, and sustainability. Collaboration with the Council and its members will strengthen our shared ability to safeguard product integrity and build consumer trust," she added.
Therefore, the new member's offering fits perfectly with the slogan of the NFI Sushi Council: 'However you sushi, sushi responsibly'. Following its incorporation, Bento Inc. will join other council member companies and aquaculture associations such as Sea Delight, Hofseth, True World Foods, Blue Ocean Mariculture, Nusatuna, Nordic Aquafarms, Aquamar, Caleta Bay, which joined last June, or the Cod Cluster from Norway, among others.