Sales of UTZ CERTIFIED Coffee Increased by 12 Percent in 2011

AMSTERDAM, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Demand for sustainable coffee, tea and cocoa with label has grown significantly

In 2011, sales of UTZ CERTIFIED coffee rose by 12%. The 136,752 metric tons of coffee beans account for around 16.5 billion cups of coffee. This makes UTZ CERTIFIED the largest program and label for sustainable coffee farming worldwide. Sales of sustainably produced tea increased by more than 50% last year and sales of sustainably produced cocoa increased by 150%. The involvement of brands like Ahold, Sara Lee, Mars and Nestlé contributes to the growing demand for sustainable raw materials.

Coffee

UTZ CERTIFIED coffee is currently grown in 23 countries and sold in 50 countries. New partners in the UTZ Coffee Program are (amongst others) Lidl, Walmart and Tchibo (fourth largest coffee roaster worldwide). In 2011, various existing partners expanded their product range carrying the label. Sara Lee for example launched UTZ CERTIFIED L'Or espresso in France, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Cocoa and tea

In 2010 the first products with UTZ CERTIFIED cocoa reached the market. In 2011, Mars and Nestlé visibly boosted UTZ cocoa sales worldwide. Mars for example is buying increasing amounts of cocoa certified by UTZ for their MARS and BALISTO bars. Tea with the label is now sold in the Netherlands by the brands Albert Heijn and Pickwick. After the introduction of the Code of Conduct for Rooibos, Pickwick was the first to launch fully UTZ CERTIFIED Rooibos. Albert Heijn is also buying increasing amounts of UTZ CERTIFIED tea. In Vietnam UTZ CERTIFIED tea is sold by the brand Tan Huong and in South Africa Carmien offers Rooibos with the UTZ label.

About UTZ CERTIFIED

UTZ CERTIFIED is a program and label for sustainable farming. Sustainable farming helps farmers, workers and their families to fulfill their ambitions and contributes to safeguarding our natural resources, now and in the future. The mission of UTZ CERTIFIED is to create a world where sustainable farming is the norm. Where famers produce according to good agricultural practices and manage their farms profitably with respect for people and planet. A world where industry invests in and rewards sustainable production and consumers can enjoy and trust the products they buy. For more information: http://www.utzcertified.org