- Food-to-go retailer introduces Fairtrade chocolate in 100% of products that it makes itself
Greggs, a leading UK food-on-the-go retailer, has announced that it has switched to using only Fairtrade chocolate in all products that it makes itself.
Since 2005, Greggs has sourced all coffee beans (for its coffee products), and fruit entirely from Fairtrade accredited suppliers, and over the years has added apple juice, orange juice, sugar sticks, sugar syrup, hot chocolate, black tea, mint tea and green tea as part of its Fairtrade commitments.
Today, Greggs announces it has furthered its commitment and is now only using chocolate from Fairtrade accredited suppliers for 100% of the products which it manufactures itself. Products that include Fairtrade chocolate include Milk Chocolate Cookies, Caramel Shortbread and Chocolate Brownies, to name a few.
Fairtrade works with more than 1.7 million farmers and workers in 1,707 producer organisations to make trade fair, setting social, economic and environmental standards for companies and farmers across all stages of the supply chain.
Fairtrade cocoa is an important conversion for cocoa farmers and delivers a number of key benefits including:
- Improved household income – As part of Fairtrade, farmers are guaranteed a minimum price for their crop and receive the Fairtrade Premium providing them an additional amount of money to spend on a benefit of their choice, from healthcare and electrical supply to bicycle ambulances and clean water.
- Support to tackle climate change & care for the environment – Fairtrade helps farmers to adapt to climate change through technical advice from experts on the ground and environmentally friendly Fairtrade Standards. This allows farmers to commit to taking steps towards reducing greenhouse gases, avoiding deforestation, tackling soil erosion and reducing water wastage.
- Women’s empowerment – Fairtrade standards call for equal opportunities for women to participate, investments in women-focused projects, and programmes that train them to be leaders and entrepreneurs.
Greggs latest commitment to sourcing chocolate from Fairtrade accredited suppliers forms part of its sustainability plan, the ‘Greggs Pledge’, and supports its commitment to sourcing sustainably and having a robust Responsible Sourcing Strategy in place by 2025.
The Greggs Pledge, launched in February 2021, sets ten commitments to help make the world a better place by 2025. These commitments are aligned with the ambitions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Greggs is and has always been committed to doing the right by its people, suppliers and the communities that it serves.
Malcolm Copland, Commercial Director at Greggs said: ‘As a responsible business, we believe in doing the right thing and are incredibly proud to be a long-standing partner of Fairtrade. We are proud to have continued to increase our Fairtrade commitments over time, which include coffee beans, apple juice, orange juice, sugar sticks, sugar syrup, hot chocolate, black tea, mint tea, green tea, bananas and now chocolate.
‘It has been incredible to see the positive impact and difference we can make to producer communities. We look forward to building on this success further and doing our bit to help change the lives of the thousands of people involved.’
Michael Gidney, CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘It’s fantastic to see Greggs building on their already impressive Fairtrade portfolio by converting their chocolate couverture.
‘The move offers customers more options to do the right thing by farmers. Through choosing Fairtrade chocolate, cocoa producers can improve their household income, access training to adapt to climate change and participate in programmes that train women to be leaders and entrepreneurs.’
The Group plans for all its chocolate used in products and across its supply chain to be 100 Fairtrade, by the end of 2021.
Read the full Greggs Pledge on the Greggs corporate website.
Read more about Fairtrade here.
Notes to Editors
About Greggs:
Greggs is a leading UK food-on-the-go retailer with more than 2,000 shops nationwide and approximately 25,000 employees across the business.
The company was founded in 1939 by John Gregg, then delivering fresh eggs and yeast, by pushbike, to the families of Newcastle. Greggs has since grown to become a nations-favourite and much-loved British brand.
Greggs has always been committed to doing the right thing by its people, partners and the communities it serves. In the sixties Greggs launched its first free ‘pie n peas supper’ for older residents in Gateshead, an initiative that still runs today and continues to support the elderly within the communities Greggs operates in. The Greggs Breakfast Club, launched in 1999, provides schoolchildren with free wholesome breakfasts each school day and today supports almost 40,000 children through its 600 Breakfast Clubs, across the UK. These, and many more initiatives, are supported through the Greggs Foundation, itsdedicated grant-making charity that aims to build stronger, healthier communities in the areas we operate.
About Fairtrade:
Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Fairtrade International is an independent non-profit organization representing 1.7 million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. It owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark of Fairtrade that appears on more than 30,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade International and its member organizations empower producers, partner with businesses, engage consumers, and advocate for a fair and sustainable future. Find out more at http://www.fairtrade.net.