Greggs commits to 100% Fairtrade chocolate
Greggs chocolate products – including Milk Chocolate Cookies, Caramel Shortbread and Chocolate Brownies – will now source their chocolate ingredients from Fairtrade accredited suppliers by the end of 2021.
The baker’s latest commitment to Fairtrade suppliers formed part of the company’s sustainability plan, dubbed the ‘Greggs Pledge’. Launched in February, it set out Greggs commitment to sourcing sustainably and having a robust responsible sourcing strategy in place by 2025.
Fairtrade commitments
Malcolm Copland, commercial director at Greggs said: “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.”
Since 2005, Greggs has sourced all coffee beans for its coffee products and fruit entirely from Fairtrade accredited suppliers. Over the years, this has expanded to products such as sugar sticks, hot chocolate, mint tea and green tea.
More options for consumers
Fairtrade Foundation chief executive Michael Gidney added: “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.”
Fairtrade works with more than 1.7m 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.
Meanwhile, bakery and confectionery trends have been heavily influenced by a shift in consumer outlook in the wake of COVID-19, with concerns such as Fairtrade and sustainable sourcing becoming key issues.
