Nestle to switch all Australian Kit Kats to UTZ Cocoa

Continuing their commitment to Fair Trade and sustainable cocoa production methods Nestle have announced that as of next year all Kit Kats sold in Australia will be made using UTZ-certified cocoa.

The internationally recognized set of criteria for ethical and professional cocoa growing, UTZ cocoa, which includes socially and environmentally appropriate growing practices and efficient farm management, is already used in the four-finger Kit Kat version in Australia, but Nestle has now pledged to switch all of the brand’s portfolio of products to the certified cocoa next year.

Andrew McIver, business executive manager for confectionery within Nestle Australia explained that the decision was part of Nestle’s overall broader “Cocoa Plan”, launched last year, a global programme aims amongst other things to increase production yields and improving the social conditions around the farming of cocoa.

'The cocoa sector faces challenges like poor soil fertility management, ageing tree stocks, improper use of chemicals, low farmer income and poor labour practices. At the same time consumers are increasingly aware of these challenges and demand products that are grown in a sustainable way,' McIver said.

'We believe certification is a critical component to our overall approach. It provides the framework to reward farmers and their organisations for producing cocoa in a sustainable manner, and certification also gives our consumers added assurance that the cocoa was produced under proper conditions'.

Now that's something we can all get our teeth into.

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar
The best online chocolate, lolly and confectionery store on the web!

If you like what you have read check out our updates on Facebook and Twitter.