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Co-op has announced that it is to become the first UK retailer to sell and use only Fairtrade cocoa in all of its products, from the chocolate sprinkles on its doughnuts to the chocolate chips in its Triple Chocolate Cookies.
Working in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation to create a new sourcing model, Co-op has now thrown down the gauntlet, calling on other food retailers to follow its lead in increasing their commitment to Fairtrade cocoa farmers.
The landmark move means that all cocoa in Co-op’s own-brand ranges will be bought entirely through a new retail-ready version of Fairtrade’s Cocoa Sourcing Program, which has been developed over the last 12 months in collaboration with the Foundation.
‘The UK is the world’s biggest Fairtrade market and the world’s fourth biggest consumer of chocolate, but our manufacturers and retailers still only source a tiny amount on Fairtrade terms. When we consider that demand for cocoa is set to rise by 30% over the next three years alone, it’s imperative that we keep moving forward with sustainability initiatives in order to shape this industry. We must help to improve the lives of farming communities who are still suffering a raw deal.’
BRAD HILL
Co-op’s Fairtrade strategy manager
Co-op’s entire own-brand chocolate confectionery range will now carry the Fairtrade Mark – from chocolate bars and gift boxes to chocolate buttons and seasonal novelties.
The news comes 15 years after the Co-op became the first and only UK retailer to switch its entire own-brand chocolate bar range to Fair-trade.
‘Chocolate is often seen as an indulgence in the west, but for the millions of small-scale farmers who grow cocoa it can mean the difference between poverty and prosperity. We are very pleased to build on our longstanding partnership with the Co-op. As a leading retailer with strong ethical values, the Co-op’s commitment to Fairtrade is exemplary. After 20 years the Co-op remains one of Fairtrade’s most important allies in helping farmers get a better deal and this move again sets the standard for other retailers to follow.’
MICHAEL GIDNEY
CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation
Set to be worth an estimated £7.1m to the industry, Co-op’s commitment will generate £450,000 in Fairtrade Premium per annum for cocoa communities, ensuring that money goes directly in to the hands of the farmers.
The switch to 100% Fairtrade cocoa, which will include over 200 Co-op products, will be completed by the end of May 2017. It will see a five-fold rise in the amount of Fairtrade cocoa sourced by the retailer, taking the total tonnage from 526 to 2,848.
Click here for more about the Co-op’s Fairtrade cocoa.
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