Woolworths and Sourcemap Partner to Trace the Seafood Supply Chain

NEW YORK, New York, CAPE TOWN, South Africa (September 05, 2024) – Sourcemap, the leading global provider of supply chain mapping and regulatory software, today announced that multinational retail company Woolworths Holdings Limited (JSE: WHL) will leverage its software to map the supply chains for high-risk commodities including seafood, cocoa, coffee, nuts, palm oil and soy. In the case of seafood, Sourcemap's supply chain mapping technology will provide Woolworths with visibility of the end-to-end supply chains all the way to fishing companies and fish farms as part of its Vision 2025 sustainable business goals. 

Seafood sustainability has come a long way, with 76.9% of global wild-caught fishery landings originating from biologically sustainable stocks. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, however, continues unabated and the global seafood supply chain is notoriously opaque. Improving seafood traceability combats IUU fishing and allows retailers to verify environmental and ethical sustainability claims.

Woolworths’ vision is to be one of the world’s most responsible retailers, and they believe that seafood is a key part of a healthy and sustainable global food future. In 2008, Woolworths established a dedicated seafood sustainability program, Fishing for the Future, to ensure that all their seafood is responsibly sourced for better food choices, healthy oceans and thriving communities. As part of the program, Woolworths works with several NGOs and technology companies to adopt innovative new solutions and thinking around seafood sustainability and to continuously improve sustainability outcomes across their seafood supply chains.

“We have always executed on the understanding that greater transparency is needed to effectively find and work with suppliers who share our vision for ethical sourcing,” said Latiefa Behardien, Chief Technology and Sustainability Officer at Woolworths Food. “Sourcemap has quickly become a mission-critical partner as we continue to strive to reach our sustainability goals and ensure a more resilient, inclusive food system.”

Woolworths is leveraging Sourcemap’s supply chain mapping and traceability technology to meet its commitment to procure all seafood from sustainable fisheries and farming operations. Sourcemap's enterprise social network connects direct and indirect suppliers across all of the tiers in the seafood supply chain, allowing Woolworths to continuously map and monitor every supplier for sustainable practices. To date, over 2.2 million suppliers are mapped in the Sourcemap Universe. 

“Secure and transparent supply chains are critical to the sustainable economic development of local economies that depend on high-risk commodities,” said Sourcemap CEO & founder Leonardo Bonanni. “Woolworths’ pioneering efforts to promote sustainable and ethical seafood supply chains underscores the impact that is possible when environmental, social and governance goals are backed by responsible sourcing.”

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About Sourcemap

New York and Paris-based Sourcemap Inc. is the leading provider of supply chain regulatory software comprising end-to-end mapping, farm and forest deforestation analysis, chain of custody traceability, and risk management. With more than 250 brands and 5.4 million suppliers mapped, Sourcemap is the first choice for the automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical, food, apparel and consumer goods sectors. Sourcemap's end-to-end supply chain due diligence technology has been named TIME Invention of the Year in 2022 and Sourcemap was selected as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2023. Learn more about Sourcemap at www.sourcemap.com 

About Woolworths Holdings Limited 

Woolworths is a leading Southern African retailer, trading in more than 400 stores in South Africa and offering a wide range of clothing, beauty, home, and food products. Their target market consists of mid- to upper-income customers who appreciate quality, innovation, and sustainability. Woolworths sources seafood from 32 countries and in 2022 became the first African retailer to join the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI). The company is also a member of the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA), the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) and currently hold the Chair of the International Pole and Line Foundation.

Media Contact: Lisa Travnik, lisa.travnik@sourcemap.com