Whittaker’s creamiest block to be Fairtrade Certified

 Fairtrade Labelling of Australia and New Zealand is pleased to announce that the 250g Whittaker’s Creamy Milk block is now Fairtrade Certified and will soon be in a store near you.

Kiwis across New Zealand will soon be able to enjoy Whittaker’s best selling block knowing that their purchase is helping Ghanaian cocoa farmers secure a better livelihood.

This move by Whittaker’s means Fairtrade farmers from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative will be able to sell more cocoa beans as Fairtrade. As well as the Fairtrade price, Kuapa Kokoo will also receive the Fairtrade Premium, currently an additional US$150 per metric tonne. This will be invested back into the community in social, environmental or economic projects.

Steve Knapp, Executive Director of Fairtrade Labelling ANZ has welcomed the move by New Zealand owned Whittaker’s; “I am glad to see Creamy Milk become Fairtrade Certified, giving more Kiwi shoppers greater opportunity to improve the lives of some of the most disadvantaged farmers.”

Whittaker’s move to make their number one chocolate block, Creamy Milk, Fairtrade Certified once again shows the power of consumer pressure and further proves that New Zealand consumers are increasingly looking for and choosing Fairtrade Certified products. 

Marketing Manager Philip Poole says, “We are happy to be a part of the fair trade movement and to be supporting Fairtrade cocoa farmers from Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana and Fairtrade sugar farmers from the Costa Rican cooperative, CoopeAgri.”

Creamy Milk will further mainstream the Fairtrade Label and is set to increase the amount of Fairtrade chocolate sales this year.  In 2009, Fairtrade chocolate confectionary retail sales in New Zealand topped $1 million and saw over 50% growth for the third consecutive year.

Read the full press release here.