The Vendia Group has won an exclusive contract with Liberation, the world’s only 100% Fairtrade Nut company, to market ‘Harry’s Nuts!’ – the Fairtrade salted peanuts from comedian Harry Hill – through its network of 4000 vending machines operating in offices and sports clubs throughout the UK.
The deal marks a step change in the growing trend for vending ethically traded products – a sector which has been dominated to date by hot drinks.
Mike Potts, Vendia’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Harry’s Nuts! are a logical extension to our award-winning Café Joe range of Fairtrade coffees and teas which have been going from strength to strength since their launch in 2005. We plan to roll out the nuts across our national network following a successful pilot trial in the London area.”
Harry’s Nuts! is endorsed by comedian Harry Hill, who doesn’t make any money from the project and donates his time for free in support of Liberation’s pioneering work with Fairtrade peanut farmers in Malawi and Nicaragua.
Marco Rossi, Managing Director of Liberation, said: “We are delighted that Harry’s Nuts! will now be on sale through Vendia’s national network of fully-serviced office machines. Unlike any other business in the nut industry, we put the small-holder farmers in a central and key position with a 42% shareholding in the company – a model which is attracting strong growth in the retail sector. Now, by partnering with an ethically-driven vending supplier, we are extending the benefits of our healthy, nutritious Fairtrade nuts to the important office worker market.”
Harry’s Nuts! are cooked for longer, making them taste nuttier than usual salted peanuts. The levels of protein and healthy fats in nuts also make them more nutritious than many sweet snacks.
Vendia is also extending its Café Joe beverages range with the launch of two new products aimed at the office marketplace. Cartagena Joe 500g tins of 100% Arabica Columbian freeze dried coffee and Mombasa Joe catering-sized boxes of tea bags are both certified 100% Fairtrade and are designed to provide a convenient source of Fairtrade beverages for offices which do not have a vending machine.
For more information on the Café Joe range of Fairtrade products available only from Vendia Ltd, please contact Mike Potts, CEO Vendia Group on tel: 07778-603752 or email Mike.Potts@vendia-group.com
