Nestle UK and Ireland has said it will double its commitment to Fairtrade by gaining certification for its two-fingered Kit Kat brand from January.

Nestle’s four-finger Kit Kit has been using Fairtrade cocoa since 2010, but this latest move means the Swiss confectioner will purchase an additional 5,300 tonnes of Fairtrade cocoa from the Ivory Coast.

The new farmer co-operatives to benefit from the certification will join the Nestle Cocoa Plan which was launched in 2009. Through this, Nestle has pledged to invest GBP65m (US$104.7m) over ten years on plant science and sustainability initiatives to support small scale cocoa farmers globally.

“Today’s news is the next step on our journey toward a sustainable supply of quality cocoa and our commitment to certify all our Kit Kats in the UK & Ireland,” said Ciaran Sullivan, managing director of Nestle Confectionery UK & Ireland.

“Farmers in the Nestle Cocoa Plan receive benefits such as new plantlets, farmer training and new schools for their communities. Ivorian farmers badly need our support and this move will help even more cocoa farmers and their families build a positive long term future,” he added.

Nestle is one of a number of confectioners that have moved to Fairtrade certification. In June, Mars Inc rolled out its first Fairtrade certified product, Maltesers, into UK stores. Kraft’s Cadbury Dairy Milk is also certified Fairtrade.

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