The leading tea and coffee retailer is asking customers to spare a thought for the origins of the coffee they buy and to understand that the best varieties will have been sourced and purchased from reputable farmers for a price that helps support their communities.

Whittard’s tea and coffee buyer Giles Hilton said: “Throughout the world, good farmers will produce the best quality crop they can because they care more for the local workforce, the community and ultimately, the long term viability of their environment.
“Our intention has always been to offer the best tasting coffees in the world so we have taken the time to find the best farmers in the best growing areas and help them develop a sustainable business.”

Reflecting this commitment to quality, Whittard has developed a unique Fair to Farmers scheme through which certain of its coffees are bought directly from farmers and mills at a premium price on a long term contract.

Said Giles: “This allows some of the profits to be directed back into the coffee producing communities. The farmers themselves are responsible for deciding how to reinvest the money and they have the added confidence and security of knowing that we are committed to them for the long term.

“I have visited the majority of our suppliers and am always delighted with the care and attention taken to produce quality coffee,” added Giles.

“All these farms and co-operatives are involved in projects that benefit the environment and community, sometimes with the help of support groups such as Utz Kapeh and Rainforest Alliance.

“We decided to develop our own fair trading policy because we wanted to help farming communities financially and also to guarantee the quality that comes from a single origin coffee from a known producer.”

Whittard coffees involved in this initiative display a Fair to Farmers logo on their packaging. A new leaflet explaining more about the scheme is also available from all Whittard stores.

For further information or to find your local store, please visit www.whittard.co.uk

Further information on Utz Kapeh and Rainforest Alliance are available at www.utzkapeh.org and www.rainforest-alliance.org