This week the chocolate and sweets giant Nestlé announced that they would no longer be buying Fairtrade cocoa or sugar, meaning that some of the UK’s favourite treats like KitKats will no longer feature the Fairtrade logo. This move has been widely condemned, with the Fairtrade Foundation noting that:
The move will mean a loss of almost £2 million (£1.95 million) in Fairtrade Premium each year for co-operatives in Côte d’Ivoire, Fiji and Malawi, representing 27,000 small scale producers. This income is a real lifeline for some of the world’s poorest farmers.
Fairtrade Foundation
The Scottish Fair Trade Forum have also released a statement expressing their disappointment, as well as their concern for producers in what is already a difficult time. Rainbow Turtle would also like to add our voices to those condemning Nestlé for their actions and asking them to reverse their position. To show your own support, you can sign this petition and share it widely.