Nestle decide KitKats are no longer to be Fairtrade  

Nestlé after 10 years of sourcing Fairtrade cocoa and sugar for its KitKats will end its Fairtrade commitment and instead promote their own Cocoa Plan. They are switching sourcing from Fairtrade sugar cane to European sugar beet. On cocoa, they will continue to source from cooperatives in Côte d’Ivoire, but as part of their own Cocoa Plan, and according to standards operated by the Rainforest Alliance instead of Fairtrade.

As a result of this cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, and sugar farmers in Fiji and Malawi will lose £1.95m (almost £2m) in Fairtrade premium every year – a small amount for a multi-billion-pound global business, but a real lifeline for some of the world’s poorest farmers, most of whom live below the poverty line. Cocoa farmers  earn on average just 74 pence per day. This will mean less money in the hands of farmers to choose how they invest in the communities, farms and cooperatives.

Our statement:

“We are deeply disappointed by Nestle’s decision to move away from using Fairtrade certified cocoa and sugar in their Kit Kats.

This decision seriously affects the cocoa producers in West Africa who have built a strong relationship with Fairtrade and have benefited from a scheme committed to fair prices and a premium that directly supports them.

Fairtrade means empowering producers and communities, giving them a platform and voice in their businesses to improve their negotiating position within the supply chain.

This decision comes at a time when cocoa producers’ livelihoods are under more threat than ever due to covid-19.

We will do all we can to support the producers who’re impacted”.

Read the statement from Fairtrade Foundation below: 

https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/Media-Centre/News/June-2020/Fairtrade-producers-raise-their-voices-to-ask-Nestle-to-keep-KitKats-Fairtrade?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=++&utm_content=SC:+KitKat+announcement+J

The affected farmers spoken to have said they want to remain Fairtrade.

Read the Ivorian Fair Trade Network letter, explaining why this is such a damaging decision.

https://e-activist.com/ea-action/enclick?ea.url.id=4778842&clid=1904&ea.campaigner.email=hLZ2RtFwSnU9PUwlaC9vLY4PnAWZMyaMPuOx63GKymE=&ea.campaigner.id=R%2FvB5I%2F2f7Sha0eWUOvjsw==&ea_broadcast_target_id=0

What can I do?

• Sign and share the petition asking Nestle to reverse the decision and keep KitKat Fairtrade
  petition link: https://bit.ly/KeepKitKatFairtrade

• Message Nestle and KitKat on social media and tell them what you think:

Nestle: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

KitKat: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram