Waitrose & Partners is today responding to Fairtrade’s call to action with a brand new commitment, it will make all the cocoa in its own brand confectionery 100% Fairtrade by the end of the year. This will significantly increase its Fairtrade cocoa volumes so that farmers can sell more and with the new Minimum Price, they will benefit from a 20% increase in value.
And in celebration of Fairtrade Fortnight there will be many promotions and special events, from a special limited-offer ice cream giveaway in Ben & Jerry’s flagship scoop shop to in-store point of sale and marketing appearing across Greggs and Starbucks stores. Meanwhile 100% Fairtrade business, Divine Chocolate is launching a new Limited Edition Smooth Dark Lemon and Juniper bar, which coincides with its 20th anniversary and the Co-op is asking shoppers to make an active pledge to swap just one product they purchase a week to Fairtrade when they shop.
As Fairtrade launches a new campaign calling on government, businesses and consumers to address the poverty in the cocoa industry by working towards Living Incomes for farmers, consumers can show their support by getting involved in its new campaign ‘She Deserves’ which is shining a light on the challenges facing women farmers in particular. In Côte d’Ivoire, where much of our cocoa comes from, farmers are scraping by on as little as 75p per day, which is far short of the Living Income Fairtrade has calculated in new research at £1.86 to cover life’s essentials.
Daniel Morey, Head of Commercial Partnerships, said: ‘This Fairtrade Fortnight, as we shine a light on the cocoa farmers behind the chocolate that we love to indulge in – businesses and consumers are showing their support for the cause too – and we’re encouraging the public to get involved, by taking part in events, and gifting Fairtrade chocolates. There is so much choice across our high streets, and when shoppers buy Fairtrade they are helping farmers get a better deal.’
Farmers like Rosine Bekoin have seen their incomes improve and become leaders in their communities through Fairtrade. Since joining a Fairtrade co-operative, Rosine has become leader of the Women’s Society, which supports women to use investment on top of cocoa sales, the Fairtrade Premium to set up enterprises that boost their incomes. Rosine says: ‘Fairtrade Premium encourages us, as women cocoa farmers, to be able to achieve certain things. We know that with Fairtrade there is a Premium waiting for us, and for each woman, you can do what is in your heart.’
When the public choose to buy and consume Fairtrade cocoa and chocolate products, this means Fairtrade farmers are paid a guaranteed minimum price for their cocoa (which is due to rise by 20 percent in October 2019), and they also receive the highest Premium of any certification scheme.
Where to get your Fairtrade Chocolate fix this Fortnight:
- Some of the UK’s most popular chocolate bars contain Fairtrade cocoa including Mars bars, Maltesers and Ferrero Rocher.
- Dutch chocolate brand, Tony’s Chocolonely, is newly launched in UK and its products will be on sale in retailers including Waitrose and Wholefoods
- Brands Clipper and Cafédirect, which this year celebrate their 25th Fairtrade anniversary, both offer delicious Fairtrade drinking chocolate and instant hot chocolate products.
- While in high street eateries, including Greggs, Starbucks and Costa Coffee shops the public can enjoy Fairtrade treats, such as hot chocolate, brownies and chocolate bars.
- Most UK supermarkets sell own-brand and branded Fairtrade chocolate and cocoa products, including M&S, Waitrose & Partners and Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl and through Fairtrade Cocoa Sourcing have lots of new chocolate products being introduced all the time.
Cocoa Facts:
- In the UK we eat 8.4kg of chocolate or 84 large bars each per person
- The UK chocolate industry is worth £4billion to the economy
- Green and Black’s Maya Gold was the first Fairtrade chocolate bar
- The majority of the world’s crop is grown in West Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana accounting for nearly 60% of the global production. (
Antonie Fountain & Friedel Huetz-Adams, Cocoa Barometer 2010) - Over 90% of the world’s cocoa is grown on small farms by five to six million farmers. (Ibid)