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Tate & Lyle Establishes Fairtrade For All

  • Tate Lyle announces its ambition to move its entire retail cane sugars range to Fairtrade, marking the largest ever switch to the ethical labelling scheme by any major UK food or drink brand.
  • In the first year alone, the switch will create a return of at least £2 million in Fairtrade premiums[1] for cane farmers.
In an announcement expected to dramatically increase the amount of Fairtrade certified sugar sold in the UK, Tate Lyle confirms today its ambition to move 100% of its retail cane sugars range to Fairtrade. It also establishes the accessibility of Fairtrade for all.

The first product to be licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark will be Tate Lyle Granulated White Cane Sugar, sourced from Belize; Tate Lyle’s first accredited grower-partner, from whom it has purchased sugar for over 35 years.

The major scale of Tate Lyle’s conversion to Fairtrade sugar has involved two years in planning. The company has worked in partnership with the UK-based Fairtrade Foundation and its international organisation to help cane farmers in Northern Belize meet Fairtrade standards. This includes working with the sole sugar processor in the country, Belize Sugar Industries[2], and over 6,000 smallholder farmers, represented by the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association.

Steven Hermiston from Tate Lyle Sugars said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Tate Lyle. Now, every time you buy a pack of Tate Lyle Fairtrade cane sugar, farming communities will benefit. Over the years, these communities have been hit by higher input prices, changes in the EU market, not to mention challenges thrown up by natural disasters such as last year’s Hurricane Dean. Our commitment will help ensure a livelihood for farmers and the Fairtrade premium will be invested to improve their long-term prospects. We are only at the beginning of this journey but are ambitious to have all our retail cane sugar range bearing the FAIRTRADE Mark by the end of 2009.“

Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb comments: “Fairtrade is already making a big difference to the lives of more than seven million people in the developing world, but there are millions more we’d like to reach. In terms of size and scale, this is the biggest ever Fairtrade switch by a UK company and it’s tremendous this iconic UK brand is backing Fairtrade. We’d now like to encourage other companies of the same size and scale as Tate Lyle to think actively about making a similar commitment. The more we can make Fairtrade the norm, the more its positive impact can be felt by farmers and their communities across the developing world.” Giovanni Loria, Chairman of Corozal (district) Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, said: “Fairtrade is like a door to a great opportunity within our community. Investments in education will generate more opportunity and Fairtrade can help us build schools, health centres, clinics and much more. For us, Fairtrade is a new beginning.” Waitrose Sugar Buyer Chris Moore, supporting Tate and Lyle’s commitment to switching its cane sugars range to 100% Fairtrade, comments: “Our customers are demonstrating a real desire to buy ethically sourced products like Tate Lyle's Fairtrade sugar as they want the assurance that growers and their communities in the developing world are getting a fair deal."

For more information visit: www.tasteandsmile-fairtrade.co.uk

To speak to someone at Tate Lyle, request additional information and/or photography, please contact Bianca Incocciati or Jo Vyvyan-Robinson or Michelle Mackman at Munro Forster on tel. 020 7815 3950 or 020 7815 3924 or 0207 815 3929. OR mobile 07940570678 / 07730538786 / 07801954427 Bianca.incocciati@munroforster.com / jo.vyvyan-robinson@munroforster.com / michelle.Mackman@munroforster.com To speak to the Fairtrade Foundation contact Eileen Maybin or Martine Julseth: eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk / martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk Tel: 020 7440 7695 / 07770 957 451 [1] Additional payment to farmers’ organisations, above and beyond the negotiated price of, in this case, sugar (currently a min. price is set by the EU). Farmers invest this premium collectively; its use is decided democratically and overseen by an elected committee of farmers. [2] Belize Sugar Industries Ltd is the sole sugar processor in Belize and consequently has an important symbiotic relationship with small cane farmers in Belize. BSI has been fully supportive of the objectives of the Fairtrade initiative to promote investment in the long-term activities that will allow the industry to survive in the increasingly competitive environment in the EU market.

Tate Lyle operates through two global business units, Speciality Food Ingredients and Bulk Ingredients, supported by Innovation and Commercial Development. The Group's strategy is to become the leading global provider of Speciality Food Ingredients through a disciplined focus on growth, and by driving the Bulk Ingredients business for sustained cash generation to fuel this growth.

Speciality Food Ingredients include starch-based speciality ingredients (corn-based speciality starches, sweeteners and fibres), no calorie sweeteners (including SPLENDA® Sucralose) and Food Systems which provides blended ingredient solutions. Bulk Ingredients include corn-based bulk sweeteners, industrial starches and fermentation products (primarily acidulants). The co-products from both divisions are primarily sold as animal feed.

Tate Lyle is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol TATE.L. American Depositary Receipts trade under TATYY. In the year to 31 March 2012, Tate Lyle sales totalled £3.1 billion. http://www.tateandlyle.com. SPLENDA® is a trademark of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC

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