CATERERS - GET INTO THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS!

22nd November 2007, 12:37pm

Christmas is of course the season of goodwill to all. As caterers all over the country are preparing menus for the stream of office parties, business and social gatherings, it is time to remind ourselves of choosing ethical products wherever we can.

What a tremendous satisfaction to work with high quality ingredients, knowing that they also contribute to a better life for millions of people around the world!
 
Now there is no better way to round up a perfect Christmas lunch or dinner than by serving delicious 100% Fairtrade, Cafédirect coffees and Teadirect teas.
 
"We usually experience an uplift in coffee sales pre Christmas, says Sylvie Barr, Head of Marketing at top Fairtrade company, Cafédirect. "This is in line with the increased activity around the party season."
 
And James Roberts, from Peros, Cafédirect's foodservice partner agrees. "Caterers are far more ethically minded now than they were a few years ago - and Christmas is a key time. Those who switch to Fairtrade at Christmas will generally stay with the brand as it helps them meet their corporate social responsibility targets"
 
Cafédirect is the UK's leading Fairtrade hot beverage company. It works in partnership and directly with, small-scale growers across the developing world. Cafédirect's unique business model means it is the only Fairtrade hot beverages company where growers are shareholders, sit on the board and have a direct say in how the business is run.
 
Cafédirect always pays a premium on top of the world market price or the minimum Fairtrade guaranteed price – whichever is the higher. And, on top of that, it drives benefits directly back to the grower communities. From 2003-2006, an average 60% of its profits were invested into grower organisations allowing them to develop their businesses and build a better future for their families.
 
"To deliver a great cup of coffee or tea you can't just rely on master coffee roasters and tea blenders. Great produce emerge from a good soil and the right climate and are grown by people with tremendous skills and expertise. That's why the knowledge and well-being of our growers are fundamental to us. And, because of this, the way we trade is unique, says Sylvie."
 
Cafédirect's coffee range includes Medium Roast which delivers a mellow, refreshing coffee with a smooth aroma and just a hint of toasted spice – an ideal accompaniment to mince pies and the rich and fruity Christmas Pudding. For espresso lovers, Cafédirect's Espresso Beans and new Organic Espresso Beans are intensely roasted to deliver a classic bittersweet espresso with a tremendous body, a clean fruity edge and a smooth, toffee-dense aroma – a perfect match with cheese, cakes and cookies.
 
Sylvie adds, "By choosing Cafédirect, you make the holiday season even more special and celebrate a better life for all! So we wish you a Merry Christmas, or in the words of our Latin American partners, Feliz Navidades!"
 
For information about stocking Cafédirect, please call 0207 940 9520 and speak to a member of the out-of-home team.