Fish for Now, Fish for Later

ARAMARK, a world leader in professional services, has made a commitment to help preserve the world's oceans and fisheries through a new partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program.

The Aquarium will help ARAMARK develop practices to guide the supply, purchase and consumption of sustainable seafood for as many as 180,000 ARAMARK employees in the U.S. and potentially tens of millions of consumers in businesses, universities, schools, sports and entertainment facilities, parks and other locations ARAMARK operates.

Sustainable seafood comes from sources, either fished or farmed, that can exist over the long term without compromising species' survival or the surrounding ecosystem.

"We're delighted to partner with ARAMARK and help the company fulfill its commitment to serving seafood that comes from sustainable wild and farmed sources," said Michael Sutton, Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Center for the Future of the Oceans, which incorporates the Sustainable Seafood Initiative and Seafood Watch program, www.seafoodwatch.org. "This decision by ARAMARK, and similar commitments by other business leaders, will have a real impact in the marketplace. By creating more demand for seafood from sources that protect the health of ocean ecosystems, we're on a path toward improving fishing practices around the world."

Through its Seafood Watch guidelines, the Monterey Bay Aquarium recommends which seafood to buy and which to avoid, helping consumers become stronger advocates for an environmentally friendly seafood supply.

"Being good environmental stewards is important to our employees, our customers and the communities in which we live and work," said Robert Dennill, Associate Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, ARAMARK. "The expertise and knowledge we are able to gain from the Monterey Bay Aquarium will guide business practices and influence consumer behaviors, helping strengthen our commitment to the environment."

ARAMARK implements sustainable business practices that positively contribute to the environments in which the company operates. As part of the new partnership with the Aquarium, ARAMARK has made a commitment to shift its seafood purchases in the U.S. toward sustainable sources over the next 10 years.

ARAMARK has begun working with suppliers, chefs and managers to:

Identify and encourage the purchase of seafood species listed on the Aquarium's Seafood Watch "Best Choices" and "Good Alternatives" lists, and discourage purchase of species on the "Avoid" list;
Regularly seek operator feedback and Aquarium research to ensure that seafood recommendations are progressive yet achievable;
Develop marketing and training materials that clearly convey to field management and front line employees the importance of the issue and the company's position on sustainable seafood choices;
Distribute as appropriate the Aquarium's consumer pocket guides to customers; and
Raise public awareness about the partnership and the issue through a variety of communications efforts.

April 17, 2008