Fairtrade
Nestle who manufacture KitKat’s in the U.K. & Ireland informed the Fairtrade Organization in May that from October it would cut it’s 10 year association with them. It will be sourcing it’s cocoa beans from farms on Rainforest Alliance terms instead of working with Fairtrade accreditation cooperatives. Nestle uses Rainforest Alliance certified farmers to produce cocoa beans for other chocolate bars such as Aero & Yorkie.
Nestle have said that it would provide financial support to help it’s farmers to certify with Rainforest Alliance if they wished. They have not taken the decision to save money and they would also invest in a series of initiatives to support farmers & communities. Nestle would spend the same amount on cocoa from the farmers it supports This news is very concerning for the cocoa bean farmers in the Ivory Coast coming at a time when their country is facing the devastating effects of Covid 19. Malawi & Fiji will be affected too as they produce & supply Nestle with cane sugar. This will be replaced with beet sugar produced in this country & EU countries.
To find out more about this contact please fairtrade.co.uk