Café Rouge, part of Casual Dining Group (CDG), the UK’s leading restaurant group, has had some of the seafood on its menu officially certified with the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Blue Fish label, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to preserving the condition of the planet.
The certification, which will see the iconic blue fish label added to menus across the UK, coincides with the release of a new seasonal spring menu which launched on 13 March. The menu features MSC certified Shetland mussels and hake, along with smoked cod and haddock fishcakes. In addition, a dish of sustainably sourced smoked cod has been added to the main menu.
To meet the stringent requirements of MSC, Café Rouge has conducted extensive training on MSC operating standards across all of its sites; as well as undergoing a rigorous audit of its supply chain of fish. Furthermore, extra training has been provided for support centre staff, covering marketing, development, procurement and supply chain.
As part of its ongoing commitment to the planet, and in line with the wider corporate social responsibility of Casual Dining Group, Café Rouge will continue to review its supply chain on an ongoing basis, seeking to source MSC certified suppliers of fish wherever possible, along with other sustainable produce.
Café Rouge Managing Director, James Spragg said, “Scrutinising your operations, by stepping back from the day-to-day and looking at the bigger picture is crucial to keeping your brand relevant in the crowded marketplace of today. We’re a brand with a rich heritage that cares about the environment and our customers, and are delighted to be the first restaurant operator of scale to receive this certification from MSC which is testament to the excellent work of our procurement team.
“The certification coincides with the launch of a new seasonal Spring menu that our executive chefs have been working on tirelessly in the development kitchen. We’re very happy with balance of flavours on the new menu and are confident our customers will love it also.”
The MSC is an international non-profit charity which recognises and awards the efforts to protect oceans and safeguard seafood supplies for the future through its blue fish label and fishery certification programmes.
George Clark, Senior Commercial Manager, Marine Stewardship Council said, “Café Rouge has worked tirelessly to ensure that they are a market leader in sustainable fish and seafood. Their recent success in implementing MSC certification for their menu has demonstrated that full supply chain traceability and seafood sustainability can be delivered at scale in a high-street dining environment and on a national level. This is what diners now expect.
“With a broad range of MSC species sourced and three core dishes bearing the MSC fish label on the menu, the business confidently and credibly informs their customers that they are making the right choice in sustainability.
“Committing to these efforts and positively communicating this by using the MSC label shows that Casual Dining Group and Café Rouge are leading the charge when it comes to delivering a trusted and sustainable offering to UK restaurant diners.”
