Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s has announced a commitment to go fully Fairtrade across its global portfolio by 2013.
The company, launched in the 1970s by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield and now owned by food giant Unilever, said today (18 February) that it wants to be the “first ice cream company to make such a significant commitment to Fairtrade” across it entire range, after becoming the first ice cream company to use the certification in 2005.
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Company co-founder Jerry Greenfield said: ”Fairtrade is about making sure people get their fair share of the pie. The whole concept of Fairtrade goes to the heart of our values and sense of right and wrong. Nobody wants to buy something that was made by exploiting somebody else.”
The firm’s commitment will see every ingredient used in its ice creams sourced as Fairtrade certified.
Rob Cameron, chief executive of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) added: “Ben & Jerry’s has demonstrated real leadership in laying out this long-term ambition to engage with smallholders, who grow nuts, bananas, vanilla, cocoa and other Fairtrade-certified ingredients.”
Last week, Ben & Jerry’s announced the departure of its CEO and vice president of global brand development.
Walt Freese resigned from the company to pursue other “values-led business and investment opportunities”.
