Waitrose reported a growing consumer interest in seafood, more specifically in mussels, over the past year.
Waitrose & Partners
UK supermarket retailer Waitrose has hired Ben Lambden as its new Sustainable Aquaculture & Fisheries manager. He has extensive experience in the seafood industry focusing on procurement, sales, and supply chain management.
Previously, Lambden held the same position at Tesco, a major competitor of the supermarket chain, where he worked for almost two years. Before that, and for six years, he held various positions at seafood provider New England Seafood specializing in tuna and farmed salmon.
"I'm very excited to start this next phase in my career in another team that promises to be market-leading and great fun, with a business whose very DNA is intertwined with sustainability and animal welfare!" reads his LinkedIn publication.
Furthermore, last year Waitrose appointed seafood sustainability expert Katie Keay as its new Senior Manager for Fisheries and Aquaculture. The role saw Keay move from a similar role in the Co-op, the UK’s fifth largest food retailer, where she was Senior Manager for Fisheries and Aquaculture since 2022.
Waitrose reported a growing consumer interest in seafood, more specifically in mussels, over the past year. According to the company, searches on its website for mussels are up 120% compared with the same time last year. Also, mussel sales with a year-on-year increase of 5% on Waitrose's in-store fish counters.
“With French-inspired cuisine gaining popularity and eco-conscious eating on the rise, mussels are fast becoming the go-to choice for both romantic meals and everyday cooking. If oysters are the old-school symbol of love, mussels might just be their modern rival," indicated Zoe Simons, Waitrose Senior Brand Development Chef.