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Cadbury Dairy Milk goes Fairtrade
Fairtrade certification for nation's best selling chocolate bar
By the end of July 2009, the famous purple packaging of Cadbury Dairy Milk will include the FAIRTRADE Mark. 300 million bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk are sold each year in the UK and Ireland, so the iconic brand, together with the Fairtrade Foundation, will get millions more people buying Fairtrade. For the cocoa farmers of Kuapa Kokoo co-op in Ghana, where Cadbury already sources its cocoa, the move will see their Fairtrade sales triple. They will sell a much larger percentage of their cocoa as Fairtrade, getting a fairer price and a much greater range of farmer and community support. The increase in sales will also help existing certified farming groups such as Belize Sugar Cane Farmers’ Association. The switch is set to benefit 46,000 farmers in total. Cadbury intends to invest £45 million over the next ten years, to help secure the future of cocoa farming in not only Ghana, but also India, Indonesia and the Caribbean, where the industry is facing ever increasing challenges. Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation says ‘We’re delighted to have the opportunity to certify Cadbury Dairy Milk, enabling all those who buy it to make a real difference for cocoa farmers with every purchase.’
Banana flash mobs and record breaking banana munching
470,001 campaigners go bananas for Fairtrade Fortnight 2009
On Saturday 7 March 2009, Fairtrade campaigners, in fancy dress, congregated in Trafalgar Square to mark the end of Fairtrade Fortnight. All across the country, and as far away as the Windward Islands, 470,001 Fairtrade campaigners munched on a banana within a 24 hour period – setting a new record.
In the first Fairtrade towns in the UK and the USA – Garstang in Lancashire and Media in Pennsylvania – residents watched each other taking part in the record attempt via live video link. Other events included banana afternoon teas, banana events in schools, bars serving banana cocktails, banana dancing, banana plays and many more wonderfully imaginative banana-themed proceedings!
Jane Snell, Business Development Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said ‘We are thrilled that the banana challenge has resonated with so many thousands of people. Buying Fairtrade is a really easy way to help alleviate poverty and ensure that the people behind the product get a fair price.’ The success of the banana eating record attempt will hopefully inspire even more retailers to start selling Fairtrade bananas, and other Fairtrade goods.
Feel good inside and out with Fairtrade
Fairtrade beauty treats availabel for the first time.
At the end of June 2009, 57 new products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark, from body butters to shower gels and shaving balms became available. High street favourites Lush and Boots were among the first companies to offer Fairtrade beauty products, as well as Essential Care and Neal’s Yard. Among the pioneers of Fairtrade beauty is new company Bubble and Balm, whose entire range of products carry the FAIRTRADE Mark. Each beauty product contains one or more Fairtrade certified ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea nut butter, sugar or brazil nut oil, benefiting disadvantaged producers from countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Fearne Cotton, TV presenter and long-standing Fairtrade supporter, says: ‘I am really excited about this new opportunity to transform trade through the way I shop. I’ve tried out several of the new beauty products for myself and love them. Not only are they great quality, but they make me feel good using them because I know that the farmers who grew the ingredients that went into them are now able to improve their lives.
©Summer 2009 Fair Comment