Friday, February 26, 2010

Fairtrade sales were up 12% in 2009 despite the tough economic climate

Fairtrade Chocolate

Posted: February 22nd, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Printed Confectionery | Tags: |

Fairtrade-Fortnight

Fairtrade sales were up 12% in 2009 despite the tough economic climate as shoppers increasingly turned to products approved by the only independent guarantee of a better deal for Third World producers.

 

Last year, sales of Fairtrade goods reached an estimated retail value of £799m and the Fairtrade Foundation also claims that 71% of people who do not already buy everything they can Fairtrade, are willing to swap one or more products during Fairtrade Fortnight which starts today. Although I don’t think even 5% of the population even know it is Fairtrade Fortnight.

 

Fairtrade products have found their way into the promotional product market too. If you want to market your businesses along especially ethical lines, then choosing Fairtrade promotional confectionery is a distinctive way to get your message across. Fairtrade promotional confectionery is only available from certain quality distributers, such as Gift Selection and Sweets2order. If you have any questions relating to any Fairtrade promotional confectionery, give their friendly sales team a call.

 

If your organisation did decide to swap their promotional confectionery for Fairtrade promotional confectionery, they would be following a trend from major chocolate suppliers. Last year, large brands that have switched to Fairtrade included Cadbury Dairy Milk, all Starbucks espresso-based coffee and Nestle’s four-finger Kit Kat. This week, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream announced that it is going 100% Fairtrade in the UK and throughout Europe by the end of 2011. While back last month, Green & Black’s switched its entire range of chocolate bars and beverages to 100% Fairtrade by the end of 2011.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Fairtrade sales were up 12% in 2009 despite the tough economic climate

Fairtrade Chocolate

Posted: February 22nd, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Printed Confectionery | Tags: |

Fairtrade-Fortnight

Fairtrade sales were up 12% in 2009 despite the tough economic climate as shoppers increasingly turned to products approved by the only independent guarantee of a better deal for Third World producers.

 

Last year, sales of Fairtrade goods reached an estimated retail value of £799m and the Fairtrade Foundation also claims that 71% of people who do not already buy everything they can Fairtrade, are willing to swap one or more products during Fairtrade Fortnight which starts today. Although I don’t think even 5% of the population even know it is Fairtrade Fortnight.

 

Fairtrade products have found their way into the promotional product market too. If you want to market your businesses along especially ethical lines, then choosing Fairtrade promotional confectionery is a distinctive way to get your message across. Fairtrade promotional confectionery is only available from certain quality distributers, such as Gift Selection and Sweets2order. If you have any questions relating to any Fairtrade promotional confectionery, give their friendly sales team a call.

 

If your organisation did decide to swap their promotional confectionery for Fairtrade promotional confectionery, they would be following a trend from major chocolate suppliers. Last year, large brands that have switched to Fairtrade included Cadbury Dairy Milk, all Starbucks espresso-based coffee and Nestle’s four-finger Kit Kat. This week, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream announced that it is going 100% Fairtrade in the UK and throughout Europe by the end of 2011. While back last month, Green & Black’s switched its entire range of chocolate bars and beverages to 100% Fairtrade by the end of 2011.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Is 85% dark chocolate enough to get the health benefits?

The dark chocolate bar health benefits start at 70% cocao. At 85%, it’s only has a little over a gram of sugar per square, and it’s my favorite kind. It’s so rich in flavor and nutrients that you can only eat a square or two a day. A consideration for chocolate loving diabetics.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Is 85% dark chocolate enough to get the health benefits?

The dark chocolate bar health benefits start at 70% cocao. At 85%, it’s only has a little over a gram of sugar per square, and it’s my favorite kind. It’s so rich in flavor and nutrients that you can only eat a square or two a day. A consideration for chocolate loving diabetics.

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Roxanne Browning has shared: Cocoa Powder FAQ: Dutch -process & natural cocoa powder - David Lebovitz

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Roxanne Browning <exoticchocolatetasting@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 4:08 PM
Subject: Roxanne Browning has shared: Cocoa Powder FAQ: Dutch -process & natural cocoa powder - David Lebovitz
To: exoticchocolatetasting@gmail.com


Cocoa Powder FAQ: Dutch-process & natural cocoa powder - David Lebovitz
Source: davidlebovitz.com

 
Roxanne Browning sent this using ShareThis.

Posted via email from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Sunday, February 21, 2010

3 Ways to Get the Mediterranean Diet Into Your Life — Easily ...

The world-famous Mediterranean diet comes in a lot of forms. It was popularized by a diet book way back in the 70s (or at some point around then), and is still held up today — at least anecdotally — as one of the world’s best and most delicious diets.

You don’t have to follow one particular example of it, and really you don’t have to follow it at all, if you don’t want to, but being here in Malta and seeing directly how people eat so differently from North America has just made us want to write about it constantly. So we started thinking of three ways you can get some of the best things about the diet without upending everything about your current routine.

Savor Your Meat By Making it Scarce and Expensive.

When you have chicken or beef several times a week, you not only cease to make it a special meal, but you also simply eat it too much. If you steer your weekly meals around vegetables and grains, the few times you have meat, you’ll be able to enjoy it that much more often.

One of the best ways to do this? Buy better meat. Go out and buy some delicious, premium quality, grass-fed, beyond-organic steaks from your local butcher. Or get some really good prosciutto from the Italian shop and do something with that. Decide to spend some real money on meat, ignore the feedlot stuff, and watch as your financial commitment forces you to slow down and really enjoy the meat you’re eating.

Create Your Own Junk Food.

This is one of Michael Pollan’s new Food Rules, and it’s perfect, really. There’s no question that people following the Mediterranean diet eat what we might call “junk” food — you’ve got your potato chips, your french fries, your varieties of donuts.

Seriously, every European culture basically has a version of deep-fried dough with sugar on it that they trot out for the dozens of festivals celebrated each year, and these things all taste a bit different and are called a billion different things and are fundamentally bad for you in terms of the amount of fat & sugar in them, but hey — they’re homemade, they actually spoil, and they take work to prepare, so you can’t just sit there, sucking them back on a daily basis.

Make a Pledge to the Good Fats

North Americans eat way too much “vegetable oil”. Most of it is inserted/injected into products and we don’t really find out what kind of vegetable is providing this oil. Could be corn, could be something else. Lord knows it’s not extra virgin olive-oil, as anyone using that on the label will trumpet it loud and clear, and it’ll be reflected in the price.

But here’s the thing: good quality olive oil isn’t that much more expensive outside of Italy or elsewhere. So much of it is exported that the prices are down, and it’s not hard to find it at a slight premium. Take a little vow — if you’re going to eat “vegetable oil”, make sure it’s only olive oil.

Why These Little Restrictions Are Easier to Do

It’s a lot easier to explain to someone that you’ve “decided to cut out X” or “are eliminating Y” from your diet, than to announce a whole-scale change in every last thing you eat. We try and cut out fats or cut down on carbs all the time — why not pick an ingredient or two instead? It’s kinda fun, restricting yourself like this, and watching the changes that result.

Pick a “meat night”, announce you only eat junk food you make from scratch, or skip 100% of the foods that have just “vegetable oil” on them. With little steps like these, you’ll be on your way to eating better in no time.

Mediterranean Readers — Over to You!

We’ve got a lot of readers from all around the Mediterranean and beyond — so tell us: what are your favorite things about your own diet? Or if you’ve visited or stayed in Spain, Italy, Greece, and so on — what did you notice the most about eating habits there?

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

3 Ways to Get the Mediterranean Diet Into Your Life — Easily ...

The world-famous Mediterranean diet comes in a lot of forms. It was popularized by a diet book way back in the 70s (or at some point around then), and is still held up today — at least anecdotally — as one of the world’s best and most delicious diets.

You don’t have to follow one particular example of it, and really you don’t have to follow it at all, if you don’t want to, but being here in Malta and seeing directly how people eat so differently from North America has just made us want to write about it constantly. So we started thinking of three ways you can get some of the best things about the diet without upending everything about your current routine.

Savor Your Meat By Making it Scarce and Expensive.

When you have chicken or beef several times a week, you not only cease to make it a special meal, but you also simply eat it too much. If you steer your weekly meals around vegetables and grains, the few times you have meat, you’ll be able to enjoy it that much more often.

One of the best ways to do this? Buy better meat. Go out and buy some delicious, premium quality, grass-fed, beyond-organic steaks from your local butcher. Or get some really good prosciutto from the Italian shop and do something with that. Decide to spend some real money on meat, ignore the feedlot stuff, and watch as your financial commitment forces you to slow down and really enjoy the meat you’re eating.

Create Your Own Junk Food.

This is one of Michael Pollan’s new Food Rules, and it’s perfect, really. There’s no question that people following the Mediterranean diet eat what we might call “junk” food — you’ve got your potato chips, your french fries, your varieties of donuts.

Seriously, every European culture basically has a version of deep-fried dough with sugar on it that they trot out for the dozens of festivals celebrated each year, and these things all taste a bit different and are called a billion different things and are fundamentally bad for you in terms of the amount of fat & sugar in them, but hey — they’re homemade, they actually spoil, and they take work to prepare, so you can’t just sit there, sucking them back on a daily basis.

Make a Pledge to the Good Fats

North Americans eat way too much “vegetable oil”. Most of it is inserted/injected into products and we don’t really find out what kind of vegetable is providing this oil. Could be corn, could be something else. Lord knows it’s not extra virgin olive-oil, as anyone using that on the label will trumpet it loud and clear, and it’ll be reflected in the price.

But here’s the thing: good quality olive oil isn’t that much more expensive outside of Italy or elsewhere. So much of it is exported that the prices are down, and it’s not hard to find it at a slight premium. Take a little vow — if you’re going to eat “vegetable oil”, make sure it’s only olive oil.

Why These Little Restrictions Are Easier to Do

It’s a lot easier to explain to someone that you’ve “decided to cut out X” or “are eliminating Y” from your diet, than to announce a whole-scale change in every last thing you eat. We try and cut out fats or cut down on carbs all the time — why not pick an ingredient or two instead? It’s kinda fun, restricting yourself like this, and watching the changes that result.

Pick a “meat night”, announce you only eat junk food you make from scratch, or skip 100% of the foods that have just “vegetable oil” on them. With little steps like these, you’ll be on your way to eating better in no time.

Mediterranean Readers — Over to You!

We’ve got a lot of readers from all around the Mediterranean and beyond — so tell us: what are your favorite things about your own diet? Or if you’ve visited or stayed in Spain, Italy, Greece, and so on — what did you notice the most about eating habits there?

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Fairtrade - why shout about it?

« Design Hotels announces 36 new hotels | Main | U.S. Hotel Industry Pulse growth stagnant | STR Reports »

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Fairtrade - why shout about it?

Fairtrade11

Unlike the high-street trade, the hospitality sector seems loath to promote its involvement in the Fairtrade movement, with some venues rarely doing more than putting a discreet "we use Fairtrade" at the bottom of a menu. Diane Lane reports

The hospitality trade rates a moderate report for its work so far with Fairtrade products - "could do better". And the opportunity to do better is just around the corner, with Fairtrade Fortnight running from 22 February to 7 March.

The industry's apparent lack of Fairtrade involvement is not a matter of social conscience, it is one of marketing, because the majority of caterers who support the Fairtrade movement simply do not promote it.

This is partly because higher-end hotels and restaurants think that shouting about one's ethics at point of service is not the right thing to do, and partly because Fairtrade's own publicity material is always targeted at high-street retail - what the beverage trade calls "grinning kids", the typical images of farming families, just do not suit Park Lane tea lounges.

As a result, venues that support the movement rarely do more than put a discreet "we use Fairtrade" at the bottom of a menu and that, says the Fairtrade Foundation, is just too understated, and does neither the catering trade or the movement any good.

"It's a very interesting problem," acknowledges Richard Anstead, head of business development at the foundation. "Every year, we produce posters for the high-street trade - but I'd be surprised to see them in an upmarket hotel. The hospitality sector remains a challenge for us."

However, he says, as more Fairtrade-certified products become available, opportunities for "acceptable" ethical messages are increasing. "Fairtrade cut flowers are a very strong growth area. They come from Africa, and studies say their carbon footprint is six times less than importing flowers from Northern Europe. I have now seen a hotel chain use Fairtrade flower bouquets, with a very simple card saying so, and no picture of a smiling farmer.

"Bedroom cosmetics are a new area, and for a 'pampering' hotel, this will be a very exciting development. Fairtrade cotton is now in its fifth year, and towels, bed linen and uniforms already exist. A discreet Fairtrade Mark on the bottom of a waiter's apron makes a very big point."


PROMOTING FAIRTRADE

There is more to making that point than meets the eye, says the Fairtrade Foundation. For the hospitality trade, it is the acceptance that being seen to work with Fairtrade is good for business. And yet even activist Bruce Crowther, the man behind the world's first Fairtrade town at Garstang, Lancashire, says he continues to have trouble persuading the local trade that promoting Fairtrade is "proper".

"The Co-op told me that when it went to Fairtrade chocolate, it outsold what had been its bestseller by four to one. And then the Slug and Lettuce chain of pubs changed to Fairtrade coffee after one local manager said 'customers always have a second cup'.

"This is what we say to all hotels and restaurants - if the big boys see good business in promoting Fairtrade, then so should you.

"It should be a piece of cake. Every decent restaurant will tell you the name of the local farm that their beef comes from, and they will write in their wine lists about where the wine comes from, but they never put their Fairtrade sources on their menus. What's the difference?"

Consumers do actually want to see this, says Sue Cronin-Jones, purchasing director at DBC Foodservice. "A third of consumers want more Fairtrade products in restaurants and pubs but 32% of people say that apparent non-availability remains the reason they do not purchase Fairtrade products. So, stating that a dish is made from Fairtrade rice provides a piece of memorable information for customers, and restaurateurs should always state if a recipe uses Fairtrade ingredients."

Here comes an opportunity, says the foundation. The theme for this year's Fairtrade Fortnight is "the Big Swap", an attempt to persuade consumers to try a Fairtrade equivalent of their usual choice. This can apply to ingredients.

It is still unusual for a kitchen to use Fairtrade as its point of difference, but it is beginning to happen, observes Eli Sarre, marketing manager at Essential Trading. "Just as some ground-breaking restaurants develop a reputation for organic or local food, we now have those who are recognised for Fairtrade. The customers' perception is that restaurants who promote themselves as 'organic Fairtrade' will source the very best ingredients."

Essential Trading now offers catering sizes for Fairtrade ingredients including basmati and Jasmine rice, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, chocolate-covered fruit and mango slices.

That so few restaurants promote Fairtrade ingredients, just shows how practical marketing of Fairtrade is still in its infancy, observes Ben Lock, head of sales at Traidcraft. "Consumers know about Fairtrade coffee from the supermarket - but how many realise that a local independent restaurant may use Fairtrade rice as part of its menu?

"Traidcraft already has honeys, jam and marmalade which are used extensively by bed and breakfast operators. We now also have high-quality Fairtrade basmati rice from Agrocel in India, Fairtrade organic pasta and Fairtrade quinoa flour from the slopes of the Andes. Our Fairtrade olive oil is from Palestine, from disadvantaged farmers."

Similarly, more Fairtrade spices are now available from Steenbergs - organic curry powder, organic garam masala and organic cardamom pods have joined a range that is now 13-strong, all Fairtrade and organic.


QUALITY DEMANDS

Pre-packed snack producers have seen the demand for quality increase, says Ian Toal, managing director of Delice de France. "In the past, Fairtrade products have not been known as providing value for money - now, a Nielsen report says that while there is a huge propensity for people wanting Fairtrade, they will not spend on something that is not good value for money".

Peros, already the biggest supplier of Fairtrade beverages to food service, has launched two new ranges of Fairtrade snacks. The One World range includes a substantial Eccles cake plus flapjacks, brownies, and muffins, and Peros says that independent blind tastings against market-leading competitor products have produced favourable results. The second range is of cookies.

The "limited-edition" Fairtrade product has now arrived from Byron Bay Cookies. This idea has already been used for a strawberries-and-cream cookie, sold during summer - some tea-houses made up a cookie-and-tea menu item - and the plum pudding cookie for Christmas. The Fairtrade Fortnight one is an apricot and almond muesli cookie.

Fairtrade nibbles on the bar are now possible -Harry's Nuts are headed by TV presenter Harry Hill, in support of smallholder farmers in Malawi and Mozambique, many of whom are women looking after Aids orphans. He argues a quality issue - the nuts are claimed to be tastier than big-name competitors.

In the dessert sector, Fairtrade ice-cream is now a desirable menu feature. Wilma Finlay, the managing director at Cream o' Galloway, explains that the sugar content of ice-cream alone makes up the required Fairtrade content, but that flavouring can be a problem.

"We use elderflower cordial to flavour our ice-cream, and that cordial includes non-Fairtrade sugar. We have to apply for a derogation - if we can show that we cannot buy elderflower cordial made with Fairtrade sugar, then they will allow it."

Big progress is being made in Fairtrade wine. It still accounts for only 2% of the market, and only comes from South Africa, Chile and Argentina, but last year's annual Fairtrade wine-tasting event achieved a 34% increase in entrants.

"It is at the cheaper volume end of the market that these wines generally perform," says Neil Palmer, director at Vintage Roots. "There is possibly a lack of higher-end wines, at £9 or over."

Opportunities are also arriving in non-food sectors. The Fairtrade Foundation is targeting the hospitality industry for cotton uniforms, largely because Fairtrade clothing sales in the fashion stores have dropped in the recession. Contract caterer ISS Eaton has been quick to see the potential, and at the Open University in Milton Keynes, all kitchen staff uniforms will be Fairtrade-certified. Even the oven mitts are Fairtrade.


FAIRTRADE FIRSTS

Better yet, says the foundation, hotels can potentially furnish entire bedrooms with Fairtrade fabrics.

And within those rooms can now be Fairtrade cosmetics. Sue Acton, director of Bubble and Balm, claims several Fairtrade firsts in soap products using Fairtrade-certified sugar from Malawi and Zambia and shea butter from Burkina Faso.

"We are now launching the first-ever natural liquid soaps with the Fairtrade Mark, and we believe these have great potential in hotels and restaurants that want to demonstrate their commitment to Fairtrade."

An extremely convenient new aspect of Fairtrade for caterers is the way that certain big brands have now taken up the Fairtrade Mark.

When Fairtrade first arrived, the problem for the hospitality trade was that the first products were brought out by small pioneer companies, who might be wonderful manufacturers, but whose names meant nothing to the public. This year it is easier, in that more well-known products can be promoted through their Fairtrade status - Cadburys achieved the Fairtrade Mark on its Dairy Milk chocolate bars last summer, and now Nestlé UK has put the logo on Kit Kat bars. For the first time, the cliché about "the reassurance of brand" can go side-by-side with legitimate Fairtrade accreditation.

Byron Bay launched a limited edition cookie while Harry Hill has lent his name to a range of bar snacks

By:

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8354dd73269e20120a8b106ef970b

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Fairtrade - why shout about it?:

Comments

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Fairtrade - why shout about it?

« Design Hotels announces 36 new hotels | Main | U.S. Hotel Industry Pulse growth stagnant | STR Reports »

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Fairtrade - why shout about it?

Fairtrade11

Unlike the high-street trade, the hospitality sector seems loath to promote its involvement in the Fairtrade movement, with some venues rarely doing more than putting a discreet "we use Fairtrade" at the bottom of a menu. Diane Lane reports

The hospitality trade rates a moderate report for its work so far with Fairtrade products - "could do better". And the opportunity to do better is just around the corner, with Fairtrade Fortnight running from 22 February to 7 March.

The industry's apparent lack of Fairtrade involvement is not a matter of social conscience, it is one of marketing, because the majority of caterers who support the Fairtrade movement simply do not promote it.

This is partly because higher-end hotels and restaurants think that shouting about one's ethics at point of service is not the right thing to do, and partly because Fairtrade's own publicity material is always targeted at high-street retail - what the beverage trade calls "grinning kids", the typical images of farming families, just do not suit Park Lane tea lounges.

As a result, venues that support the movement rarely do more than put a discreet "we use Fairtrade" at the bottom of a menu and that, says the Fairtrade Foundation, is just too understated, and does neither the catering trade or the movement any good.

"It's a very interesting problem," acknowledges Richard Anstead, head of business development at the foundation. "Every year, we produce posters for the high-street trade - but I'd be surprised to see them in an upmarket hotel. The hospitality sector remains a challenge for us."

However, he says, as more Fairtrade-certified products become available, opportunities for "acceptable" ethical messages are increasing. "Fairtrade cut flowers are a very strong growth area. They come from Africa, and studies say their carbon footprint is six times less than importing flowers from Northern Europe. I have now seen a hotel chain use Fairtrade flower bouquets, with a very simple card saying so, and no picture of a smiling farmer.

"Bedroom cosmetics are a new area, and for a 'pampering' hotel, this will be a very exciting development. Fairtrade cotton is now in its fifth year, and towels, bed linen and uniforms already exist. A discreet Fairtrade Mark on the bottom of a waiter's apron makes a very big point."


PROMOTING FAIRTRADE

There is more to making that point than meets the eye, says the Fairtrade Foundation. For the hospitality trade, it is the acceptance that being seen to work with Fairtrade is good for business. And yet even activist Bruce Crowther, the man behind the world's first Fairtrade town at Garstang, Lancashire, says he continues to have trouble persuading the local trade that promoting Fairtrade is "proper".

"The Co-op told me that when it went to Fairtrade chocolate, it outsold what had been its bestseller by four to one. And then the Slug and Lettuce chain of pubs changed to Fairtrade coffee after one local manager said 'customers always have a second cup'.

"This is what we say to all hotels and restaurants - if the big boys see good business in promoting Fairtrade, then so should you.

"It should be a piece of cake. Every decent restaurant will tell you the name of the local farm that their beef comes from, and they will write in their wine lists about where the wine comes from, but they never put their Fairtrade sources on their menus. What's the difference?"

Consumers do actually want to see this, says Sue Cronin-Jones, purchasing director at DBC Foodservice. "A third of consumers want more Fairtrade products in restaurants and pubs but 32% of people say that apparent non-availability remains the reason they do not purchase Fairtrade products. So, stating that a dish is made from Fairtrade rice provides a piece of memorable information for customers, and restaurateurs should always state if a recipe uses Fairtrade ingredients."

Here comes an opportunity, says the foundation. The theme for this year's Fairtrade Fortnight is "the Big Swap", an attempt to persuade consumers to try a Fairtrade equivalent of their usual choice. This can apply to ingredients.

It is still unusual for a kitchen to use Fairtrade as its point of difference, but it is beginning to happen, observes Eli Sarre, marketing manager at Essential Trading. "Just as some ground-breaking restaurants develop a reputation for organic or local food, we now have those who are recognised for Fairtrade. The customers' perception is that restaurants who promote themselves as 'organic Fairtrade' will source the very best ingredients."

Essential Trading now offers catering sizes for Fairtrade ingredients including basmati and Jasmine rice, sesame seeds, cashew nuts, chocolate-covered fruit and mango slices.

That so few restaurants promote Fairtrade ingredients, just shows how practical marketing of Fairtrade is still in its infancy, observes Ben Lock, head of sales at Traidcraft. "Consumers know about Fairtrade coffee from the supermarket - but how many realise that a local independent restaurant may use Fairtrade rice as part of its menu?

"Traidcraft already has honeys, jam and marmalade which are used extensively by bed and breakfast operators. We now also have high-quality Fairtrade basmati rice from Agrocel in India, Fairtrade organic pasta and Fairtrade quinoa flour from the slopes of the Andes. Our Fairtrade olive oil is from Palestine, from disadvantaged farmers."

Similarly, more Fairtrade spices are now available from Steenbergs - organic curry powder, organic garam masala and organic cardamom pods have joined a range that is now 13-strong, all Fairtrade and organic.


QUALITY DEMANDS

Pre-packed snack producers have seen the demand for quality increase, says Ian Toal, managing director of Delice de France. "In the past, Fairtrade products have not been known as providing value for money - now, a Nielsen report says that while there is a huge propensity for people wanting Fairtrade, they will not spend on something that is not good value for money".

Peros, already the biggest supplier of Fairtrade beverages to food service, has launched two new ranges of Fairtrade snacks. The One World range includes a substantial Eccles cake plus flapjacks, brownies, and muffins, and Peros says that independent blind tastings against market-leading competitor products have produced favourable results. The second range is of cookies.

The "limited-edition" Fairtrade product has now arrived from Byron Bay Cookies. This idea has already been used for a strawberries-and-cream cookie, sold during summer - some tea-houses made up a cookie-and-tea menu item - and the plum pudding cookie for Christmas. The Fairtrade Fortnight one is an apricot and almond muesli cookie.

Fairtrade nibbles on the bar are now possible -Harry's Nuts are headed by TV presenter Harry Hill, in support of smallholder farmers in Malawi and Mozambique, many of whom are women looking after Aids orphans. He argues a quality issue - the nuts are claimed to be tastier than big-name competitors.

In the dessert sector, Fairtrade ice-cream is now a desirable menu feature. Wilma Finlay, the managing director at Cream o' Galloway, explains that the sugar content of ice-cream alone makes up the required Fairtrade content, but that flavouring can be a problem.

"We use elderflower cordial to flavour our ice-cream, and that cordial includes non-Fairtrade sugar. We have to apply for a derogation - if we can show that we cannot buy elderflower cordial made with Fairtrade sugar, then they will allow it."

Big progress is being made in Fairtrade wine. It still accounts for only 2% of the market, and only comes from South Africa, Chile and Argentina, but last year's annual Fairtrade wine-tasting event achieved a 34% increase in entrants.

"It is at the cheaper volume end of the market that these wines generally perform," says Neil Palmer, director at Vintage Roots. "There is possibly a lack of higher-end wines, at £9 or over."

Opportunities are also arriving in non-food sectors. The Fairtrade Foundation is targeting the hospitality industry for cotton uniforms, largely because Fairtrade clothing sales in the fashion stores have dropped in the recession. Contract caterer ISS Eaton has been quick to see the potential, and at the Open University in Milton Keynes, all kitchen staff uniforms will be Fairtrade-certified. Even the oven mitts are Fairtrade.


FAIRTRADE FIRSTS

Better yet, says the foundation, hotels can potentially furnish entire bedrooms with Fairtrade fabrics.

And within those rooms can now be Fairtrade cosmetics. Sue Acton, director of Bubble and Balm, claims several Fairtrade firsts in soap products using Fairtrade-certified sugar from Malawi and Zambia and shea butter from Burkina Faso.

"We are now launching the first-ever natural liquid soaps with the Fairtrade Mark, and we believe these have great potential in hotels and restaurants that want to demonstrate their commitment to Fairtrade."

An extremely convenient new aspect of Fairtrade for caterers is the way that certain big brands have now taken up the Fairtrade Mark.

When Fairtrade first arrived, the problem for the hospitality trade was that the first products were brought out by small pioneer companies, who might be wonderful manufacturers, but whose names meant nothing to the public. This year it is easier, in that more well-known products can be promoted through their Fairtrade status - Cadburys achieved the Fairtrade Mark on its Dairy Milk chocolate bars last summer, and now Nestlé UK has put the logo on Kit Kat bars. For the first time, the cliché about "the reassurance of brand" can go side-by-side with legitimate Fairtrade accreditation.

Byron Bay launched a limited edition cookie while Harry Hill has lent his name to a range of bar snacks

By:

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8354dd73269e20120a8b106ef970b

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Fairtrade - why shout about it?:

Comments

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Divine Chocolate News-FairTrade

One of the few farmer owned chocolate companies in the world share their message

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Divine Chocolate News-FairTrade

One of the few farmer owned chocolate companies in the world share their message

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

Thursday, February 11, 2010

show a bit of love to the planet this valentine's day. | The ...

The Becothings Blog

…our latest news & views

Feb
11
2010

show a bit of love to the planet this valentine’s day.

every year on february 14th love is well and truly in the air, with everyone buying cards, flowers and gifts for that special someone. what people often don’t realise however is the negative impact that this has on the environment and the earth’s resources. from trees being cut down to make cards to increased carbon emissions from transportation and increases in pesticides used on flowers,  the traditional accoutrements to valentine’s day come with more than the store’s hefty price tag. but for all you environmantics there are lots of great ideas out there which don’t cost the earth…

cards.
each year royal mail deliver a staggering 12 million valentine’s cards… if all of these cards are made from non-recycled paper, that’s a lot of trees. making paper has a considerable impact of the environment, with paper mills using vast amounts of water and discharging large quantities of chemicals. when paper finally ends up in a landfill it produces methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases. factor in that the paper industry contributes to approximately 10% of global carbon emissions [3 times that of global aviation] and all of a sudden sending a loved one a card doesn’t seem as romantic.

don’t fear however as you can still send a card with a conscience. one of the best options is to be crafty in more ways than one and save some cash by making your own card from reused paper and magazines. check out this great guide from the guardian for some ideas. if you’re not in the blue peter spirit then m&s has a fab selection of fsc-certified cards and nigel’s eco store has a innovative card set made from natural biodegradable cotton impregnated with wild flower seeds which you can then plant and watch grow into beautiful flowers. also try looking for cards made out of alternative sustainable materials such as hemp, straw and even animal dung! for a card that’s a real token of love then why not have a go at carving your own card? nigel’s ecostore comes up trumps again with their sustainably sourced wooden postcard, which you can carve your own message on. and finally for those last minute amongst you [yes boys, i’m talking to you!] then embrace the wonders of modern technology and send an e-card… jibjab have a selection that are bound to win you at least a few brownies points.

flowers.
a bunch of roses might be a traditional valentine’s token but environmental impact to shop bought flowers isn’t quite as rosy. 55 million roses are traded globally on valentine’s day with 35,000kg of co2 being emitted from growing 12,000 rose stems in holland alone. flowers are also one of the top pesticide intensive agricultural crops. an estimated 22,700 pounds of pesticides are used on roses purchased for valentine’s day in the usa. that’s a big weight for our planet to bear. repercussions of industrial flower growth include loss of animal and plant species, water resources running dry and high levels of deadly chemicals leaching into the surrounding water and land. in addition to this the greenhouse gases produced from the transportation of cut flowers also add to the environmental impact.

locally grown plants or bouquets are the best of the bunch when it comes to buying flowers. the impact on the environment is lower and you also have the benefit of supporting local farms and florists. waitrose have a wide range of fairtrade flowers, as do arena flowers and the organic flower company. if you’re not feeling all that green fingered then have a go at making some paper flowers from re-used paper that will last a lifetime or get some ready made fairtrade felt flowers from love eco. for flowers that are as much a gift to the planet as to your loved one why not gift some plant seeds or shrubbery? this beautiful wild cherry tree will remind your loved one you care every day of the year as will a tree from tree2mydoor or a rose bush from your local garden centre.

chocolates.
ever since the cadbury’s milk tray man came along a box of chocolates is on every girl’s valentine’s wish list. what many people don’t realise is that 66% of carbon emissions when making chocolates comes from milk production, with the co2 footprint growing in the transportation process. with chocolate ingredients sourced from abroad there is little you can do about this unfortunately.

you can however make sure you buy fairtrade and organic-certified chocolates to reduce pesticide usage. green and blacks have a fantastic selection of fairtrade, organic chocolate, as do divine. for the real romantics by nature have some heart shaped organic chocolate lollies. chocolala are a firm favourite of mine with their gorgeous hand crafted chocs and chocolate dipped fruit. if you fancy yourself as a bit of a jamie oliver then have a go at making your own chocolate or chocolate dipped strawberries. trust me boys, this one will go down a treat and if you’re lucky your lady might reward you with a beer and bars gift box from green and blacks!

gifts.
for all you helpless environmantics out there the selection of eco gifts on offer means there is something for everyone. it really is the thought that counts at valentine’s and a hand-made gift not only shows you care but also cuts down on all the plastic and packaging commonly found in valentine’s gifts. the guardian has a great selection of ideas from photo flick books to edible underwear!

if you’re after a more traditional gift such as jewellery bear in mind the environmental and ethical concerns. the average footprint of a gold ring for example adds up to 18 tonnes of waste and 5 tonnes of water, with the human cost of gold mining being even greater. low wages, poor working conditions and child labour are all prevalent problems. the same can be said of diamond production. luckily there are lots of ethical and fairtrade stores whose designs are stunning. check out fifi bijoux for ethically mined gold pendants and certified diamonds. made and cred also have selections that will delight even the pickiest of princesses. for those who like their jewellery to be a little different then something from uncommonly beautiful or the natural store is perfect.

if jewellery isn’t your thing then ascension has a wide range of eco fashion, beauty and homewares. just remember to stock up on BecoHangers to hang all those new clothes on! ecocentric also have a great selection to choose from, i especially like this ‘love’ cushion and www.ecocentric.co.uk%2facatalog%2fEco_Centric_Whats_New_Hand_Cut_Cloud_Pendant_Lamp_Shade_-_Prague.html&WD=valentines&PN=Eco_Centric_Eco_Gifts_For_Him_Entertaining_Organic_Teas_Love_Love_tea_And_Cookies.html%23a4_211350_2f108#a4_211350_2f108" target="_blank">‘love love tea and cookies’. a framed piece of artwork makes a lovely gift that can be appreciated forever more. boutiko have a stylish ‘love love love print’ or you could make your own.

it’s a well known fact that gift shopping gives even the most hardened of men a headache so it’s only fair to reward all that [hopeful!] effort. for a touch of geek chic these circuit board cuff links or organiser from my eco store are great. the store also does these fab grolsch tumblers and recycled bottle top fridge magnets. for the fashion savvy check out surfers against sewage or love eco for a bicycle tyre belt. music lovers will go gaga over these recycled vinyl coasters and clocks. remember to wrap all your gifts with recycled paper or re-use magazines and newspaper for quirky and unique presentation.

and that’s valentine’s day from a to well, v! we hope you all have a great valentine’s day… and if you get a card with a mysterious paw print on it i can tell you now it’s probably from the teddy…

natalie the bunny. x.

No Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Powered by WordPress | Theme | Becothings Home

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting

show a bit of love to the planet this valentine's day. | The ...

The Becothings Blog

…our latest news & views

Feb
11
2010

show a bit of love to the planet this valentine’s day.

every year on february 14th love is well and truly in the air, with everyone buying cards, flowers and gifts for that special someone. what people often don’t realise however is the negative impact that this has on the environment and the earth’s resources. from trees being cut down to make cards to increased carbon emissions from transportation and increases in pesticides used on flowers,  the traditional accoutrements to valentine’s day come with more than the store’s hefty price tag. but for all you environmantics there are lots of great ideas out there which don’t cost the earth…

cards.
each year royal mail deliver a staggering 12 million valentine’s cards… if all of these cards are made from non-recycled paper, that’s a lot of trees. making paper has a considerable impact of the environment, with paper mills using vast amounts of water and discharging large quantities of chemicals. when paper finally ends up in a landfill it produces methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases. factor in that the paper industry contributes to approximately 10% of global carbon emissions [3 times that of global aviation] and all of a sudden sending a loved one a card doesn’t seem as romantic.

don’t fear however as you can still send a card with a conscience. one of the best options is to be crafty in more ways than one and save some cash by making your own card from reused paper and magazines. check out this great guide from the guardian for some ideas. if you’re not in the blue peter spirit then m&s has a fab selection of fsc-certified cards and nigel’s eco store has a innovative card set made from natural biodegradable cotton impregnated with wild flower seeds which you can then plant and watch grow into beautiful flowers. also try looking for cards made out of alternative sustainable materials such as hemp, straw and even animal dung! for a card that’s a real token of love then why not have a go at carving your own card? nigel’s ecostore comes up trumps again with their sustainably sourced wooden postcard, which you can carve your own message on. and finally for those last minute amongst you [yes boys, i’m talking to you!] then embrace the wonders of modern technology and send an e-card… jibjab have a selection that are bound to win you at least a few brownies points.

flowers.
a bunch of roses might be a traditional valentine’s token but environmental impact to shop bought flowers isn’t quite as rosy. 55 million roses are traded globally on valentine’s day with 35,000kg of co2 being emitted from growing 12,000 rose stems in holland alone. flowers are also one of the top pesticide intensive agricultural crops. an estimated 22,700 pounds of pesticides are used on roses purchased for valentine’s day in the usa. that’s a big weight for our planet to bear. repercussions of industrial flower growth include loss of animal and plant species, water resources running dry and high levels of deadly chemicals leaching into the surrounding water and land. in addition to this the greenhouse gases produced from the transportation of cut flowers also add to the environmental impact.

locally grown plants or bouquets are the best of the bunch when it comes to buying flowers. the impact on the environment is lower and you also have the benefit of supporting local farms and florists. waitrose have a wide range of fairtrade flowers, as do arena flowers and the organic flower company. if you’re not feeling all that green fingered then have a go at making some paper flowers from re-used paper that will last a lifetime or get some ready made fairtrade felt flowers from love eco. for flowers that are as much a gift to the planet as to your loved one why not gift some plant seeds or shrubbery? this beautiful wild cherry tree will remind your loved one you care every day of the year as will a tree from tree2mydoor or a rose bush from your local garden centre.

chocolates.
ever since the cadbury’s milk tray man came along a box of chocolates is on every girl’s valentine’s wish list. what many people don’t realise is that 66% of carbon emissions when making chocolates comes from milk production, with the co2 footprint growing in the transportation process. with chocolate ingredients sourced from abroad there is little you can do about this unfortunately.

you can however make sure you buy fairtrade and organic-certified chocolates to reduce pesticide usage. green and blacks have a fantastic selection of fairtrade, organic chocolate, as do divine. for the real romantics by nature have some heart shaped organic chocolate lollies. chocolala are a firm favourite of mine with their gorgeous hand crafted chocs and chocolate dipped fruit. if you fancy yourself as a bit of a jamie oliver then have a go at making your own chocolate or chocolate dipped strawberries. trust me boys, this one will go down a treat and if you’re lucky your lady might reward you with a beer and bars gift box from green and blacks!

gifts.
for all you helpless environmantics out there the selection of eco gifts on offer means there is something for everyone. it really is the thought that counts at valentine’s and a hand-made gift not only shows you care but also cuts down on all the plastic and packaging commonly found in valentine’s gifts. the guardian has a great selection of ideas from photo flick books to edible underwear!

if you’re after a more traditional gift such as jewellery bear in mind the environmental and ethical concerns. the average footprint of a gold ring for example adds up to 18 tonnes of waste and 5 tonnes of water, with the human cost of gold mining being even greater. low wages, poor working conditions and child labour are all prevalent problems. the same can be said of diamond production. luckily there are lots of ethical and fairtrade stores whose designs are stunning. check out fifi bijoux for ethically mined gold pendants and certified diamonds. made and cred also have selections that will delight even the pickiest of princesses. for those who like their jewellery to be a little different then something from uncommonly beautiful or the natural store is perfect.

if jewellery isn’t your thing then ascension has a wide range of eco fashion, beauty and homewares. just remember to stock up on BecoHangers to hang all those new clothes on! ecocentric also have a great selection to choose from, i especially like this ‘love’ cushion and www.ecocentric.co.uk%2facatalog%2fEco_Centric_Whats_New_Hand_Cut_Cloud_Pendant_Lamp_Shade_-_Prague.html&WD=valentines&PN=Eco_Centric_Eco_Gifts_For_Him_Entertaining_Organic_Teas_Love_Love_tea_And_Cookies.html%23a4_211350_2f108#a4_211350_2f108" target="_blank">‘love love tea and cookies’. a framed piece of artwork makes a lovely gift that can be appreciated forever more. boutiko have a stylish ‘love love love print’ or you could make your own.

it’s a well known fact that gift shopping gives even the most hardened of men a headache so it’s only fair to reward all that [hopeful!] effort. for a touch of geek chic these circuit board cuff links or organiser from my eco store are great. the store also does these fab grolsch tumblers and recycled bottle top fridge magnets. for the fashion savvy check out surfers against sewage or love eco for a bicycle tyre belt. music lovers will go gaga over these recycled vinyl coasters and clocks. remember to wrap all your gifts with recycled paper or re-use magazines and newspaper for quirky and unique presentation.

and that’s valentine’s day from a to well, v! we hope you all have a great valentine’s day… and if you get a card with a mysterious paw print on it i can tell you now it’s probably from the teddy…

natalie the bunny. x.

No Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Powered by WordPress | Theme | Becothings Home

Posted via web from Exotic Chocolate Tasting