Plaza chocolate cafe joins global push for fair trade
SAN Churro Sunshine Plaza is helping to build a fairer future for cocoa farmers in developing countries by offering a choice of chocolate indulgences now made with Fairtrade certified cocoa.
The chocolate cafe became one of the first in Australia to commit to purchasing cocoa under the new Fairtrade Cocoa Program in October.
The move to Fairtrade cocoa coincided with the store's new menu launch, which has the café now using certified cocoa in a wide range of beverages and treats.
San Churro chocolate indulgence can help improve a cocoa farmer's livelihood, through providing a stable source of income and a Fairtrade Premium to invest in community projects of their choice, Sunshine Plaza chocolate cafe owner Deb Tuma said.
"As a local business, we're all about providing the best chocolate indulgences and service in the most delightful way to our local community," she said.
"Knowing that our support is helping to improve the lives of cocoa farmers and their communities around the world enhance the indulgence even further."
Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand CEO, Molly Harriss Olson, was also delighted about San Churro's support of the Program.
"Currently 90% of the world's cocoa is grown on small-scale family farms, but only 1.2% of this is sold on Fairtrade terms - so it's fantastic to see San Churro leading the way as the first chocolate café chain in Australia to give its customers a fair choice by serving desserts made using Fairtrade certified cocoa," she said.
"Fairtrade is all about doing business better and fairer. In the case of our Fairtrade Cocoa Program, it's also a good excuse to eat more of what you love, and feel good about it!"
About 70% of the dark, milk and white chocolate menu items served at San Churro Sunshine Plaza are now created using Fairtrade cocoa.
These items feature the same iconic couverture chocolate imported from Spain. San Churro's Fairtrade cocoa doesn't currently extend to their retail offering.
San Churro's commitment to Fairtrade began in 2010, when the brand became the first national café chain to serve Fairtrade organic coffee across all their cafés.
Five years later, San Churro is proud to also be the first national café chain to use Fairtrade cocoa in their menu.
"Our Fairtrade commitment is long term" says Giro Maurici, "this is just the beginning for us, we are currently working hard with all our suppliers to extend the use of Fairtrade cocoa to all areas of our chocolate offering."
Customers are encouraged to share an image to Instagram that depicts how they #choosefair in their everyday lives for the chance to win a year's supply of San Churro's Fairtrade chocolate menu.
Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, 24th November 2015
Originally published as: Plaza chocolate cafe joins global push for fair trade
