Panago Pizza takes a leading role in sustainable seafood purchasing for all its seafood toppings

Sept. 5, 2008, Vancouver, BC –
Consumers can now make sustainable seafood choices while ordering their
pizza.

Sept. 5, 2008, Vancouver, BC – Consumers can now make sustainable seafood choices while ordering their pizza. Panago, the first takeout and delivery chain to partner with the Vancouver Aquarium has transitioned all seafood items on their menu at over 160 locations to ensure they are Oceanwise certified.

The move to partner with the Vancouver Aquarium coincided with the recent overhaul of the pizza chains menu ingredients to include no artificial flavours or colours and no added trans fat or MSG. “As well as offering our customers high quality ingredients, we are pleased about being able to offer our customers a more environmentally responsible choice when seafood is ordered,” says Panago’s CEO Sean De Gregorio.  “The partnership is a small step toward minimizing environmental impact on our oceans,” he adds. The change to Panago’s menu will affect approximately 120,000 pizzas with shrimp, oyster and/or anchovy toppings that ordered throughout the year.

"Overfishing is THE number one problem facing the world's oceans. With over 90% of ocean animals longer than 6 feet now gone, and with most ocean fisheries on the brink of collapse within the next 25 years, it is a major problem that we must respond to.  Panago has done just that by committing to provide sustainable seafood alternatives in partnership with the Ocean Wise program. As one of the largest pizza providers in Western Canada, and expansion eastward, they are proving that change is possible and they are most certainly a leader among quick service restaurants," Dr. John Nightingale, President, Vancouver Aquarium.

“Panago, has always maintained a reputation in the industry for sourcing high quality ingredients that promote healthful eating and offers good value for our customers. Supporting the sustainability of our Oceanic environment with this partnership is a nice addition to this commitment and a good fit for us,” says Panago’s Executive Chef and Certified Chef de Cuisine Jason Symington.  “Our success with this program enables us to set another positive example in the category and we are pleased to have the Ocean Wise program supporting and guiding us to achieve our mutual goal, finishes Symington. "

Ocean Wise sustainable seafood assessments are based on recommendations and research by leading marine conservation organizations such as Monterey Bay Aquariums’ Seafood Watch Program and Sea Choice Canada. The Ocean Wise Program assists its partner’s with sourcing sustainable seafood alternatives. These choices are highlighted on partner menus by the use of theOcean Wise logo.