Cadbury Chocolate Goes Fair Trade
Published March 04, 2009 @ 07:48AM PT
Big news for the Fair Trade movement, the chocolate industry and for Fair Trade cocoa farmers around the 
world. Cadbury, which is said to be synonymous to chocolate in the UK, has just announced their commitment to Fair Trade for all Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate. Fair Trade certification of all Cadbury's Milk Chocolate is set to be achieved by the end of summer 2009. Chief Executive of Cadbury, Todd Stitzer announced,
This is an historic moment for our company. I am proud that the nation’s favourite chocolate bar will display the FAIRTRADE Mark. I was in Ghana last month and saw how vital it is that businesses support their partners and the communities they live in. We believe that by joining forces with the Fairtrade Foundation, we can further improve living standards and conditions for farmers and farming communities, and create a sustainable supply of high quality cocoa for Cadbury.
Ghana, home of the highest quality cocoa is where Cadbury sources all their cocoa beans. Cadbury's announcement means the tripling of cocoa sales under Fair Trade terms bringing the much needed demand for the supply of Fair Trade cocoa. Fairtrade Foundation's Harriet Lamb remarks,
Cadbury’s commitment is breakthrough news for the farmers in Ghana who are very excited that they will be able to sell more of their cocoa as Fairtrade, bringing greater benefits to their communities. 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. This certainly sets a new standard for the mainstream chocolate industry.
The Fair Trade switch is part of Cadbury's Cocoa Partnership (CCP) Initiative, in which Cadbury are investing 
"£45 million over the next ten years to secure the sustainable socio-economic future of cocoa farming in Ghana, India, Indonesia and the Caribbean where the cocoa farming industry is facing increasing challenges".
This is great news Fair Trade friends. Although this announcement centers around the UK and is happening across the pond, I can feel the movement buzzing with excitement and anticipation. My history of Cadbury chocolate isn't too extensive besides lots of memories noshing on the bars wrapped in those purple wrappers. There is talk about wondering about Cadbury's full commitment to Fair Trade because this still leaves all their non-Dairy Milk chocolate up for Fair Trade certification. There is also hesitation and resistance when big corporations dip their toe in Fair Trade, questioning their full intentions and their actual commitment or if it is just lip-service to the movement. Big example would be the Fair Trade movement and Starbucks.
However, it looks like Cadbury is making long strides toward helping out cocoa communities and are making their way to continue to strengthen their commitment. Cadbury was started as a Quaker company that had a philanthropic mission, so we are hoping that this fact alone will mean that their commitment to Fair Trade is a continuation of the values and ethics that the company was built on. This really is a big step for the mainstream chocolate industry and I hope that the big guys in the American chocolate industry are taking some notes.
I will continue to keep you all updated on any new developments and debates around this big announcement.
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Comments (8)
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Author
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Zarah is the Operations Manager for the Global Exchange Fair Trade Online Store, a project of the international human rights organization, Global Exchange. Alongside her work with marginalized communities from all over the world to get their products into the international market, Zarah serves to educate and inform the public about a more just and sustainable trading system.
Wow. This is a HUGE victory for the FT movement. Congrats to all my fellow FT activists out there, and Cadbury--great move (it took you long enough ;-)). This is clear evidence for U.S. choclate companies--Hershey's, M&M/Mars, etc.--making the switch to FT is totally plausible ya'll.
Posted by Dominique Johnson on 03/04/2009 @ 08:12AM PT
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Hi, Barbara here from the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK - we're brimming with excitement here! This is just the start - as well as the Cadbury Dairy Milk bar, they've already said they're going to also commit to all their cocoa beverages going Fairtrade in the UK and Ireland, and we're already talking about taking the Cadbury Dairy Milk Fairtrade commitment to other countries too, and other products in the longer term. You can follow the unfolding story, find out the history behind this, and ask your questions, on Cadbury's new blog at cadburydairymilk.typepad.com.
I want to pay tribute too to the 100% Fair Trade chocolate brands - like Divine - who've done so much to build this market, worked with the cocoa growers in Ghana, and also operate a 'Gold Standard' model with additional profits reinvested back into growers' communities and, crucially, a massive stake in owning the brand too. We set out together to take Fair Trade into the mainstream - Cadbury's commitment today takes us one step (one giant leap?) further! So tonight, I'm going to eat a bar of Divine chocolate to celebrate! (Come late Summer, I reckon I'll be tucking into the odd bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk Fairtrade too)
Barbara
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Posted by Barbara Crowther on 03/04/2009 @ 11:36AM PT
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WOW. awesome.
Posted by nadia s on 03/04/2009 @ 04:43PM PT
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It's such a big announcement. Apparently, Dairy Milk is Cadbury's biggest seller, and even just the fact that all those people who buy the chocolate will suddenly see a Fairtrade logo on their wrappers means that the Fairtrade message is going to spread even further.
Posted by Helen Bode on 03/05/2009 @ 02:15AM PT
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Fantastic news. Huge!
Posted by mike @change.org on 03/06/2009 @ 07:35AM PT
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Great news! It is really important that "big brands" who are known in the mass market commit to fair trade- it will send a crucial message to consumers (both "conscious consumers" and those soon to be...). Way to go Cadbury!
Posted by Megan Le on 03/08/2009 @ 04:36PM PT
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This is a massive victory for the fair trade movement but also a potential threat - and a threat to Divine Chocolate, the firm that is largely responsible for this progress - if we ignore the reality that Cadbury has only committed to, not completed a, conversion of 20%, not 100% of their product range, to fair trade practices.
Posted by Christopher Inkster on 03/28/2009 @ 11:42AM PT
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MENCIAH FARMS AND TRANSPORT LTD.P.O.BOX 185EJISU--ASHANTIGHANATEL:+233 264488842FAX:+233 202763 Dear sir/madam, I am the managing director and the said company and would like to attend your upcoming conference/seminar.Would like to learn alot and also talk to other companies as well as suppliers abroad.I would take this opportunity to request for an invitation letter to attend your programs.If you need other information i would provide them so that you prepare my invitation... Thank you DUKE ADU MANU (Managing Director)
Posted by DUKE ADU MANU on 06/14/2009 @ 04:49AM PT
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