“Letter from the Ivorian Fair Trade Network in response to the announcement that Nestlé is stopping buying cocoa and sugar on Fairtrade terms”, June 2020

…Fairtrade is essential for us because it allows us to participate in the development of our communities independently. It is therefore with deep regret and…concern that we have learned that after proudly producing cocoa for KitKat in the UK for a decade, 16,000 small cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire will no longer enjoy the benefits of selling their cocoa on Fairtrade terms.

The decision to stop buying cocoa and sugar on Fairtrade terms means fewer schools, water pumps, health centres and the end of many other essential services. We invite Nestlé to continue negotiating with us producer representatives and the Fairtrade label in order to find ways of agreement so as to reconsider their decision. We call on Nestlé to maintain its commitment to us Fairtrade producers by considering the devastating effects of the current COVID 19 crisis.

On behalf of cocoa farmers in Côte d'Ivoire, we ask Nestlé to keep KitKat Fairtrade!