Food-to-go retailer, Greggs, has announced that it will be using 100% Fairtrade chocolate within its products sold through its shops.

Since 2005, Greggs has sourced a multitude of its products from Fairtrade accredited suppliers, from coffee beans through to fruit. The company is now furthering this commitment by sourcing 100% of the chocolate used in its products and across its supply chain from Fairtrade accredited suppliers.

Greggs chocolate products include Milk Chocolate Cookies, Caramel Shortbread and Chocolate Brownies, to name a few.

Greggs’ commitment to sourcing 100% of its chocolate entirely from Fairtrade accredited suppliers forms part of the company’s sustainability plan, the ‘Greggs Pledge’, supporting its commitment to sourcing sustainably and having a robust Responsible Sourcing Strategy in place by 2025.

The Greggs Pledge, launched in February 2021, sets out the company’s ten commitments to help make the world a better place by 2025. These commitments are aligned with the ambitions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Malcolm Copland, Commercial Director at Greggs said: “As a responsible business, we believe in doing the right thing and are incredibly proud to be a longstanding partner of Fairtrade. We are proud to have continued to increase our Fairtrade commitments over time, which include coffee beans, apple juice, orange juice, sugar sticks, sugar syrup, hot chocolate, black tea, mint tea, green tea, bananas and now chocolate.

“It has been incredible to see the positive impact and difference we can make to producer communities. We look forward to building on this success further and doing our bit to help change the lives of the thousands of people involved.”

Michael Gidney, CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, added: “It’s fantastic to see Greggs building on their already impressive Fairtrade portfolio by converting their chocolate couverture. The move offers customers more options to do the right thing by farmers.

“Through choosing Fairtrade chocolate, cocoa producers can improve their household income, access training to adapt to climate change and participate in programmes that train women to be leaders and entrepreneurs.”

The company will switch over to Fairtrade chocolate in all Greggs-made chocolate products by the end of 2021.