Fairtrade Fortnight focuses on plight of women in the cocoa sector

Fairtrade is set to launch a new campaign on Monday, February 25, calling on the UK government, businesses and consumers to address the poverty in the cocoa industry by working towards living incomes for farmers.

Fairtrade Fortnight (February 25 – Sunday March 10) will also see a wide range of UK businesses from Waitrose & Partners to Divine backing Fairtrade’s cocoa campaign.

For two weeks each year, thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and who are often exploited and badly paid. This year Fairtrade is focusing on the people – in particular the women – who work on cocoa farms.

‘She Deserves’

Consumers can show their support by getting involved in its new campaign ‘She Deserves’, which is shining a light on the challenges facing women farmers in particular. In Côte d’Ivoire, where much of UK cocoa comes from, farmers are scraping by on as little as 75p (98c) per day, which is far short of the Living Income Fairtrade has calculated in new research at £1.86 ($2.42) to cover life’s essentials. 

When the public choose to buy and consume Fairtrade cocoa and chocolate products, this means Fairtrade farmers are paid a guaranteed minimum price for their cocoa (which is due to rise by 20% in October 2019), and they also receive the highest Premium of any certification scheme.  

To kick off the campaign, 100% Fairtrade business, Divine Chocolate is launching a new Limited Edition Smooth Dark Lemon and Juniper bar, which coincides with its 20th anniversary and retailers from Waitrose & Partners to Co-op are showing support. The Co-op is asking shoppers to make an active pledge to swap just one product they purchase a week to Fairtrade when they shop.

Daniel Morey, head of commercial partnerships, said: “This Fairtrade Fortnight, as we shine a light on the cocoa farmers behind the chocolate that we love to indulge in – businesses and consumers are showing their support for the cause too – and we’re encouraging the public to get involved, by taking part in events, and gifting Fairtrade chocolates. There is so much choice across our high streets, and when shoppers buy Fairtrade they are helping farmers get a better deal​.”

British consumers can get their Fairtrade Chocolate fix this fortnight from the following companies:

• Some of the UK’s most popular chocolate bars contain Fairtrade cocoa including Mars bars, Maltesers, Ferrero Rocher and Nestle KitKat 2 and 4 finger bars
• Dutch chocolate brand, Tony’s Chocolonely, is newly launched in UK and its products will be on sale in retailers including Waitrose and Wholefoods
• Brands Clipper and Cafédirect, which this year celebrate their 25th Fairtrade anniversary, both offer delicious Fairtrade drinking chocolate and instant hot chocolate products. 
• While in high street eateries, including Greggs, Starbucks and Costa Coffee shops the public can enjoy Fairtrade treats, such as hot chocolate, brownies and chocolate bars.
• Most UK supermarkets sell own-brand and branded Fairtrade chocolate and cocoa products, including M&S, Waitrose & Partners and Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl and through Fairtrade Cocoa Sourcing have lots of new chocolate products being introduced all the time.