Tate & Lyle’s shift to Fairtrade sugar is the largest ever by a major UK food or drink brand.

Europe’s biggest sugar cane refiner, Tate & Lyle, announced Saturday it is switching to 100% Fairtrade retail cane sugars in Britain in a bid to help global farming communities achieve a fair price.

The changeover, which is worth at least £2 million in Fairtrade premiums for cane farmers, is the largest-ever switch to the ethical labelling scheme by a major UK food or drink brand.

Over the years, farming communities have suffered at the hands of higher input prices, changes in the EU market, and challenges thrown up by natural disasters such as last year’s Hurricane Dean, Tate & Lyle said. The company now hopes that farming communities will benefit every time consumers buy a pack of its Fairtrade cane sugar.

Fairtrade Foundation Executive Director Harriet Lamb commented on the move: “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.”

Tate & Lyle Granulated White Cane Sugar, sourced from Belize, will be the first product licensed to carry the Fairtrade mark. Giovanni Loria, Chairman of Corozal (district) Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, described the move as ‘a door to a great opportunity within his community.’ He said: “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.”

The company hopes its entire retail cane sugar range will carry the Fairtrade mark by the end of 2009.

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

By Natasha Piscitelli