25th February 2008
Group has increased sales of coffee by 12% since 2006 since switch to Bewley's Fairtrade coffee
DUBLIN, 14th March 2008 – Thomas Read Group has announced it will sell only Bewley's Fairtrade tea and hot chocolate in its 18 premises.This follows the Group's announcement in 2006 that it would sell only Bewley's Fairtrade coffee which resulted in a 12% increase in sales of espresso based coffee drinks.
Bewley's was the first company to roast fairtrade certified coffee in Ireland in the mid 1990's and has worked hard to champion wider support for fairtrade within the industry ever since. All Bewley's coffee is purchased through direct trading mechanisms in coffee production regions or from independently certified responsible coffee farms. The Fairtrade Mark is the independent guarantee that products carrying the Mark have been produced according to internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.
In addition, ten cent from each cup of coffee, tea and hot chocolate sold in all Thomas Read Group premises during Fairtrade Fortnight (which ran from February 25th to March 9th) will be donated to the coffee pickers of Asociacion Chajulense in Guatemala. Asociacion Chajulense works with 49 communities in remote areas of northern Gutemala to promote community development with particular focus on the most vulnerable members of society.
Eamonn Flemming, Purchasing Manager, Thomas Read Group commented:
"We place a priority on our social responsibilities and this extends to using produce supplied on the basis of ethical standards and sustainability. We have now augmented our range of Bewley's espresso based organic coffees, with tea and hot chocolate, all of which are Fairtrade certified. Since we launched Bewley's Fairtrade coffee two years ago we have increased our coffee sales by 12% in existing premises."
He added: "Serving fairtrade coffee, tea and hot chocolate enables us to give something back and we are pleased that it will benefit producers with a fair price. Our patrons will also be able to enjoy these high quality fairtrade hot beverages at no extra cost in all our bars and restaurants."
Jim Corbett, Managing Director, Bewley's Ltd., commented:
"At Bewley's, we purchase all our coffee and tea at prices which support the economic viability, livelihoods and social well-being of coffee and tea producers. We are pleased that The Thomas Read Group has made the switch to Fairtrade beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Over half the world's coffee is produced on small family farms with only a few acres of coffee trees. Fairtrade certification provides a way for these farmers to increase their income by helping to organise into cooperatives and linking them directly to coffee importers. As market leader, we believe it is extremely important to actively support all fair-trade initiatives, such as this one with the Thomas Read Group."
Peter Gaynor, Director of Fairtrade Ireland, commented:
"This initiative exemplifies the benefits that can be achieved when businesses are prepared to make a real difference. The economies of some of the poorest countries in the world are highly dependent on trade in coffee. The Fairtrade mark guarantees that the coffee you are drinking is produced to ethically acceptable standards and for an agreed fairtrade price."
