Fairtrade to be supported by Nestle
The Fairtrade logo will be appearing on Kit Kat bars from January 2010, and will be the first certified bars manufactured by Nestle.
The move should benefit thousands of farmers in Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), according to the Fairtrade Foundation, as they will now be given the Fairtrade or market price for cocoa.
Additional premium payments will also be given to Farmers' organisations which will allow them to invest in community and business development projects of their own choice, including education, healthcare, the environment or their businesses.
Harrier Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said, "Cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire struggle under the relentless pressures of poverty with shockingly high levels of illiteracy and poor access to healthcare. The significant volumes of cocoa that go into making Kit Kat will open new possibilities for these farmers in Côte d'Ivoire, giving them a more sustainable livelihood and the chance to plan for a better future.
She added, "The public will be cheering this groundbreaking move, taking Fairtrade further into the mainstream. This is a huge step towards tipping the balance of trade in favour of disadvantaged cocoa producers."
