The Big Sugar Swap - Compass Commits to 100% Fairtrade Sugar

Compass Group UK & Ireland has committed to purchasing 100 per cent Fairtrade certified sugar across the entire business operation by June 2010.

Press Release
Compass Group news team
Monday 15 February 2010

In advance of Fairtrade Fortnight, the UK?s largest caterer, Compass Group UK & Ireland has committed to purchasing 100 per cent Fairtrade certified sugar across the entire business operation by June 2010. Compass is the first in the industry to make such a large scale pledge, highlighting its commitment to Fairtrade and ethical sourcing.

Compass has partnered with Tate & Lyle to make this sugar swap possible and will be rolling out Fairtrade sugar sachets across all of its catering sites throughout February to coincide with Fairtrade Fortnight. The rest of the sugar purchased by Compass will be Fairtrade by June 2010.

Commenting on Compass? commitment to Fairtrade, Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: ?Congratulations to Compass for supporting the Big Swap by announcing their commitment to swap their sugar to Fairtrade by the summer. This is sweet news for Fairtrade Farmers who through Fairtrade receive a fair price and a Fairtrade premium. Compass? enthusiastic support for Fairtrade is an excellent example of how companies can get involved and make a real difference. We urge other companies to do the same.?

Mike Walden, Executive Director ? Purchasing & Supply Chain, Compass Group UK & Ireland: ?Compass UK currently buys more than 1,200 tonnes of sugar a year so this is a major move for the business and one which we hope will have a big impact on the communities we are supporting by switching to Fairtrade sugar.  Our sugar will primarily come from growers in Belize, helping them to secure their future through investment in schools, hospitals and the long-term sustainability of their businesses.?

In addition to its sugar swap, Compass has developed a toolkit for its business and industry clients to help them promote Fairtrade Fortnight. Compass? education arm, Chartwells, will be hosting ?market stall? events in a number of its university and college client locations where a variety of Compass? Fairtrade and other ethical suppliers will showcase their products and raise awareness of their causes and the communities they support. 

-Ends-

Notes to editors

For more information:
Liz Bastone, Compass Group UK & Ireland
Tel: 01895 554426
Mob:  07500 607965
Email: liz.bastone@compass-group.co.uk

About Compass Group UK & Ireland
Compass Group UK and Ireland is part of Compass Group plc, the world's leading foodservice company. We specialise in providing food, vending and related services on our clients' premises and we generated annual revenues of over £13.4 billion in the year to 30 September 2009. The company operates across the following core sectors of Business & Industry, Defence, Offshore & Remote Site, Healthcare, Education, Sports & Leisure and Vending with an established brand portfolio. For more information visit www.compass-group.co.uk

About Tate & Lyle and Fairtrade Sugar
Tate & Lyle announced its ambition to move its entire retail cane sugars range to Fairtrade in February 2008, marking at the time the largest ever switch to the ethical labelling scheme by any major UK food or drink brand. In the first year alone, the switch created a return of at least £2 million in Fairtrade premiums[1] for cane farmers.

[1] Additional payment to farmers? organisations, above and beyond the negotiated price of, in this case, sugar (currently a min. price is set by the EU). Farmers invest this premium collectively; its use is decided democratically and overseen by an elected committee of farmers.
 
About Fairtrade
The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body which licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products which meet international Fairtrade standards. This independent consumer label is now recognised by 72% of UK consumers and appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than 7.5 million people ? farmers, workers and their families ? across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.