Sustainably sourced hot chocolate, from Kenco

The Kenco Coffee Company has announced that, from last month, it is sourcing its extensive range of Suchard Hot Chocolate flavour products to cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM farms. This major move effects Kenco In-Cup, Kenco Singles, Kenco FreshSeal, Kenco Vending, Kenco Sachets and Kenco ancillary Hot Chocolate flavour products, all marketed under the brand name Suchard.
Kraft Foods, parent company of The Kenco Coffee Company, is the first European manufacturer of Hot Chocolate flavour drinking products to introduce cocoa powder sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM farms, and the company has been working with the Rainforest Alliance to open up new supplies from certified sources in West Africa since 2006.
The ambitious project with Kraft Foods, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Rainforest Alliance and other partners, has helped farmers in Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest producer of cocoa, to meet the conservation organisation’s standard for eco-friendly and socially responsible cocoa farming. The Rainforest Alliance and its partners have provided guidance and technical assistance to about 4,000 farmers in six co-operatives in Côte d’Ivoire over two years to encourage sustainable cocoa production.
Farmers who have earned the Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM seal have to meet comprehensive environmental and social standards, developed by the Rainforest Alliance and other conservation groups that make up the Sustainable Agriculture Network. The farmers must take action to conserve natural resources, protect the welfare of workers and put into place more efficient management practices.
Kenco already offers an extensive range of coffees from Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM farms under the Kenco Sustainable Development name, first introduced in 2004. While recently the company announced the addition of tea from Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM farms to Kenco’s vending ranges through PG tips – 50 per cent of PG tips tea now comes from Rainforest Alliance Certified^TM farms and Unilever, the maker of PG tips, is committed to getting certification for the rest of the tea by 2010.
The addition of sustainably sourced Suchard Hot Chocolate flavour drink varieties gives Kenco clients and customers a compelling ethical offer which meets both the consumers’ growing desire to make a difference and customers’ desire to support sustainable farming.
Ashley Neal, Director of Sales at The Kenco Coffee Company says: ‘This launch helps us to deliver great tasting hot beverages that make a difference and help grow a sustainable future. We are delighted to be offering Rainforest Alliance Certified ^TM Suchard Hot Chocolate, PG tips tea and Kenco Sustainable Development coffee within the Kenco range and are sure it will be a very motivating offer to both our customers and consumers.
http://www.kencocoffeecompany.co.uk/