Certification

Russel Stover Chocolates among latest brands to join Fairtrade America

By Anthony Myers

- Last updated on GMT

Russell Stover's new line of five bars contains Fairtrade certified cocoa. Russell Stover
Russell Stover's new line of five bars contains Fairtrade certified cocoa. Russell Stover

Related tags Fairtrade America

Fairtrade America has thanked a cluster of new brands - including Hu Kitchen, Russel Stover, Grace Farms Foods, noops, Kishu Baby, Renewal Mill, Rodelle Kitchen and Dukkan Foods - for joining its certification programme during 2021.

The organisation said that by carrying the Fairtrade label, these brands are informing consumers they are committed to fairer trading conditions by producing their goods in compliance with Fairtrade’s rigorous social, economic and environmental standards designed to support secure livelihoods for smallholder farmers and workers around the world.

According to its biennial Fairtrade Consumer Insights report conducted by GlobeScan, nearly 80% of US shoppers aware of Fairtrade would look at a brand that carried its certification label more favourably, and 73% of Fairtrade shoppers are willing to pay more for a product to ensure producers are paid a fair price.

Additionally, 77% of Fairtrade shoppers say the Fairtrade Mark makes it easy to decide if a product is ethically and responsibly produced. This reinforces a growing consumer demand for transparency, demonstrable fair wages, and environmental protection in sourcing and production.

Fairtrade certified cocoa 

Russell Stover Chocolates is a 98-year-old confectionery company known for its gifting chocolate and launched Joy Bites this summer – its first-ever collection of no-sugar-added chocolate bars. The new line of five bars is carefully crafted with Fairtrade certified cocoa and features breakable bites in resealable packaging that’s 100% recyclable with FSC-certified outer sleeves; reinforcing the company’s part of a much larger sustainability vision that counts on so many to be successful.

It is such an honour to partner with our Fairtrade certified brands and jointly raise the voices of the 1.8 million farmers and workers behind products we buy every day​,” said Peg Willingham, Executive Director, Fairtrade America.

It’s imperative we work together to promote fairer trading conditions, and in turn combat poverty, child labour, gender inequality and climate change. When consumers choose products from our brand partners, they are part of a community standing up for justice and for a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive​.”

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