Lucas Delgado
Chicken of the Sea is a seafood company that packages and provides seafood products such as tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, and oysters. The company was founded in 1914 as the Van Camp Seafood Company and adopted the name Chicken of the Sea in the 1950s. The name Chicken of the Sea is said to have originated from fishermen who referred to white albacore tuna as chicken of the sea due to its mild flavor and light color, resembling chicken. The company has faced criticism from Greenpeace for its environmental and labor practices, with calls for more sustainable and ethical sourcing. Chicken of the Sea has responded with sustainability initiatives and commitments, such as their SeaChange®2030 initiative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Chicken of the Sea |
| Company Type | Packager and provider of seafood |
| Year Founded | 1914 |
| Parent Company | Thai Union Group |
| Headquarters | El Segundo, California |
| Sustainability Initiatives | SeaChange®2030 initiative, International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) |
| Products | Tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, sardines |
| Product Features | Fully cooked, ready to eat, shelf-stable |
| Mascot | Catalina, a blonde mermaid with a golden scepter |
| Mascot Inspiration | Grace Lee Whitney |
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What You'll Learn
The brand 'Chicken of the Sea'
Chicken of the Sea is a seafood packaging and provider company, owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The brand is attached to tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines in cans, pouches, and cups. The company was founded in the United States in 1914 when Gilbert Van Camp moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, renaming it the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
The phrase "Chicken of the Sea" was first used by fishermen in the early 1900s to describe white albacore tuna. The name was derived from the white colour and mild flavour of the fish, which reminded them of chicken. The company adopted this phrase as their advertising slogan in the 1950s, and it soon became so successful that it also became the company name. The brand's iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, was introduced around the same time and has been a beloved part of the brand ever since.
Chicken of the Sea has been in business for over 100 years and is one of the largest tuna brands in the United States. The company has expanded over the years, merging with other companies and acquiring additional seafood businesses. In 2006, Thai Union formed a new division, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, to focus on sales of premium quality fresh and frozen seafood products. This division enhanced the brand's awareness and distribution in the food service and retail industries.
Chicken of the Sea has also faced some challenges and criticism. In 2016, the company recalled 107,000 cans of tuna in the US due to undercooking. Additionally, the company has been criticised by Greenpeace for its environmental and labour practices. Greenpeace has called on Chicken of the Sea and its parent company, Thai Union Group, to address environmental and human rights abuses in their supply chains and to offer more sustainable and ethical products. In response, Chicken of the Sea has made sustainability commitments through its SeaChange®2030 initiative, aiming to transform the seafood industry and foster a more sustainable future.
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Fishermen's nickname for white albacore tuna
In the early 1900s, fishermen used to refer to white albacore tuna as "chicken of the sea". This nickname was given to the fish because of its mild flavour and light-coloured flesh, which reminded fishermen of chicken. The phrase was first used to describe the taste of the fish, and it proved so successful that it was later adopted as the name of a company that packages and provides seafood.
Chicken of the Sea, founded in 1914, is a seafood company owned by the Thai Union Group in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The company packages and provides canned, pouched, and cupped tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines. The brand is known worldwide, with annual sales climbing to US$600 million in 2003.
The company's iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, was introduced in the 1950s and has become a beloved part of the brand. The mermaid was modelled after Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand on Star Trek: The Original Series.
Chicken of the Sea has been criticised by Greenpeace for its unsustainable and unethical practices. Greenpeace has called on the company and its parent organisation, Thai Union Group, to address environmental and labour abuses in their supply chains. Despite these criticisms, Chicken of the Sea is a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and has released annual Sustainability Reports since 2011.
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The company's history
Chicken of the Sea is a provider of seafood, including canned tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines. The company was founded in 1914 by Gilbert Van Camp, who moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, and purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, renaming it the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
The phrase "Chicken of the Sea" was first used by fishermen to refer to white albacore tuna, due to its light colour and mild flavour, reminiscent of chicken. In the 1950s, the company adopted this phrase as its advertising slogan and later changed its name to Chicken of the Sea International. The brand's iconic mermaid mascot, Catalina, was also introduced during this decade and became a well-known symbol of the company.
Over the years, Chicken of the Sea has changed hands several times. In 1963, the Van Camp Seafood Company was purchased by Ralston Purina, and in 1988, it was sold to an Indonesian corporation, PT Mantrust. In 2000, Thai Union International, Inc. became the sole owner of the company, and in 2006, they formed a new division, Chicken of the Sea Frozen Foods, to focus on premium fresh and frozen seafood sales.
Chicken of the Sea has been the subject of criticism from Greenpeace for its environmental and labour practices. Greenpeace has called on the company to address human rights abuses, improve sustainability, and commit to ethical sourcing. However, the company has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainability through its SeaChange®2030 initiative and its partnership with the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF).
In 2024, Chicken of the Sea was recognised for its sustainability efforts, ranking first in the Food Products Industry on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and among the top 1% of the world's most sustainable food companies in the S&P Global Assessment. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary by donating $1 million to 100 nonprofit organisations working to improve their communities.
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Sustainability and ethical concerns
Chicken of the Sea, one of the largest tuna brands in the US, has faced scrutiny from Greenpeace and other organizations for its sustainability and ethical practices. The brand is owned by the Thai Union Group, the world's largest canned tuna company, and its products include tuna, salmon, clams, crab, shrimp, mackerel, oysters, kippers, and sardines. While the company has made efforts towards sustainability, there are still concerns about its environmental and social impact.
Greenpeace has criticized Chicken of the Sea and its parent company, Thai Union Group, for their involvement in human rights and environmental abuses. Workers in the fishing industry have reported being beaten, abused, and forced to work on ships for extended periods. Additionally, fishing methods have been known to harm marine life, and there are issues with the storage and packaging of tuna, which is sometimes stored in the same containers as dirty fuel. These practices have led Greenpeace to label Chicken of the Sea as one of the most destructive canned tuna brands in the US, impacting both the oceans and industry workers.
In response to these concerns, Chicken of the Sea has implemented several sustainability initiatives. The company is a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), committed to protecting the oceans for future generations. They have also introduced the SeaChange®2030 initiative, which aims to transform the seafood industry and foster a more sustainable future. This includes responsible sourcing strategies to minimize waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address climate change. Chicken of the Sea also claims that all their tuna and salmon products can be traced back to the fishing boat through a tracking code on each can.
However, Greenpeace argues that these efforts are not enough. They have called for Chicken of the Sea and Thai Union Group to offer only sustainable and ethical tuna to their customers, believing that the company has the responsibility and capacity to drive change in the global tuna fisheries. Greenpeace has launched a global campaign demanding that the companies address environmental and labor abuses in their supply chains.
To conclude, while Chicken of the Sea has taken steps towards sustainability and transparency in their supply chain, there are still concerns about the ethical treatment of workers and the environmental impact of their fishing practices. The company faces pressure from Greenpeace and other advocates to ensure that their actions match their sustainability commitments and that they hold themselves accountable for any human rights and environmental abuses within their supply chains.
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The company's response to concerns
Chicken of the Sea has been the subject of criticism from Greenpeace, which has called out the company for its unsustainable and unethical practices. Greenpeace has alleged that Chicken of the Sea and its parent company, Thai Union Group, are implicated in serious human rights and environmental abuses. In response to these concerns, Chicken of the Sea has highlighted its sustainability commitments through its SeaChange®2030 initiative. Led by Thai Union, this initiative is dedicated to transforming the seafood industry and fostering a more sustainable future. Their responsible sourcing strategies aim to minimize waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address climate change.
Chicken of the Sea has also emphasized their commitment to protecting the oceans and seafood industry workers, stating that they are a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) and have released annual Sustainability Reports since 2011 to share their environmental and social impacts. They have also highlighted their ability to trace their tuna and salmon products back to the fishing boat and their Quality Control procedures that ensure all products meet quality and safety standards.
In addition, the company has donated to nonprofit organizations working to improve their communities and has achieved recognition for their sustainability efforts, ranking #1 in the Food Products Industry on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for 2024 and in the top 1% of the world's most sustainable food companies in the S&P Global Assessment for 2024.
Chicken of the Sea has also addressed concerns about the treatment of workers in the fishing industry. They have denied allegations of abuse and forced labor, stating that they have strict policies in place to protect the rights and safety of their employees and contractors. The company has also highlighted its commitment to ethical sourcing and its efforts to drive positive change in the global tuna fisheries.
In response to specific incidents, such as the recall of 107,000 cans of tuna in 2016 due to undercooking, Chicken of the Sea has attributed these issues to equipment malfunctions and has assured consumers that their products are fully cooked and safe to eat. They have also provided instructions on proper storage and consumption, including recommendations to refrigerate products after opening and consume within 2-3 days.
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Frequently asked questions
In the old days, fishermen referred to white albacore tuna as "Chicken of the Sea" because the white colour and mild flavour reminded them of chicken.
The phrase was first used to describe the taste of the tuna.
The founder of the company, Gilbert Van Camp, thought that "Chicken of the Sea" would be a unique name for a brand of tuna.
The company adopted the advertising slogan "Chicken of the Sea" in the 1950s, about 16 years after it was founded.
The company was founded in 1914 when Frank Van Camp's son, Gilbert Van Camp, moved to San Pedro, Los Angeles, purchased the California Tuna Canning Company, and renamed it the Van Camp Sea Food Company.
