Fair Trade
We are serious about our responsibilities to trading fairly whether we are sourcing ingredients locally or overseas.Here’s some of what we do and why:
- Haigh’s Chocolates, where possible, sources its ingredients, such as sugar, milk powder, dried fruit and nuts, from within Australia and in support of Australian producers.
- Australia does not have a viable cocoa growing industry. We therefore, import premium priced, raw high-quality cocoa beans from countries around the world such as Ecuador, Papua New Guinea and Ghana, then roast and blend them locally, guaranteeing our high-quality chocolate production.
- Through our industry association, the Australian Industry Group- Confectionery Sector (Ai Group), we are part of a global partnership with governments, non-government organisations and industry, including the International Cocoa Initiative, to improve the lives of West African cocoa farmers and their families through a public certification process.
- We are also a direct member of the World Cocoa Foundation which works in all cocoa growing regions to help farming communities. In addition, there are privately-run schemes, such as Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade, that operate on a smaller scale.
- To brand Haigh’s Chocolates as Fair Trade Certified, we are required under the Fair Trade Foundation certification process to purchase our chocolate ingredients from a Fair Trade certified supplier in a developing nation.
- As we choose to use Australian-produced ingredients in our chocolates, we are ineligible for Fair Trade Certification, regardless of where our cocoa beans are purchased.
- The Confectionery Industry has urged the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand to change this aspect of its criteria. This would enable Haigh’s Chocolates to buy Fair Trade cocoa beans, use Australian produce where available and receive Fair Trade certification.
- We are all aiming for the same result – a fair trading system that helps cocoa farming families.
- For further information on the work underway in cocoa farming communities, please contact:
