Deal represents one of country’s largest ever Fairtrade deals and will benefit local producers in Brazil.
Pictured Oisín Masterson, Head of Marketing, Topaz at the announcement of the one of the country’s largest ever Fairtrade deals whereby 4 million cups of Fairtrade coffee will be sold through Topaz stations every year.
Friday 5th September 2008
Topaz – the country’s largest service station and convenience store business - has signed a contract to source the equivalent of 4 million cups of coffee a year through Fairtrade Ireland – the organisation that promotes ethical coffee production. The order – for 30 tonnes of coffee beans a year - is one of the largest orders ever secured through Fairtrade and will directly benefit local producers in Brazil.
Danny Murray, Chief Executive of Topaz, said the company was delighted with the deal; “This Fairtrade coffee wins out on taste and on the use of sustainable production practices so it’s a win: win as far as we’re concerned. As one of the largest coffee retailers in the country, we saw this as an opportunity to use our buying power for the benefit of Fairtrade certified producers using sustainable production processes in developing countries.
“We have now selected the specific farms and regions that our coffee will come from and we have assured ourselves that the practices involved in their production are sustainable and protective of their local communities.”
“Working with Fairtrade, we will support the establishment of direct links with coffee farmers and the payment of forward prices which guarantee a premium to those farmers in return for quality produce and fostering social responsibility and environmentally sustainable production practices.
“This ensures quality coffee supplies and it gives the farmers financial stability to further invest in equipment and farm resources. It is this form of direct trading practice which can ultimately be of the most benefit to coffee producers in developing nations, and we are very pleased to be able to support this agenda in such a substantial manner,” said Murray
Topaz Energy is one of Ireland’s largest privately owned companies with annual turnover of €3.5 billion and more than 1.5 million customer transactions a week. The company is currently engaged in a €50 million investment programme supporting the launch of the new Topaz brand in the Irish fuels and retail business.
Peter Gaynor, Executive Director of Fairtrade Mark Ireland commented: “We’re delighted to have secured this very significant contract. It will further help to raise awareness among consumers of the necessity to pay producers a fair price for their produce, and is an excellent example of how Irish businesses can better support producers in developing countries.”
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Fairtrade certification is monitored by Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), the international organisation which helps producers to meet internationally agreed Fairtrade standards. The benefits include a minimum price, and a social bonus for investment in economic and social projects. Fairtrade Mark Ireland is the Irish member of FLO, and a registered charity, and licences products meeting these standards to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.