Tchibo Launches UTZ CERTIFIED Espresso in Nine Countries

AMSTERDAM, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

UTZ CERTIFIED is glad to announce that Tchibo, the fourth largest roasting company in the world, will launch a limited edition UTZ CERTIFIED espresso in the Cafissimo range: the 'Grand Classé Veloso Brasil'. The coffee, in stores from March 19, will be made available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey and Korea.

For the Grand Classé Veloso Brasil only Arabica beans are used grown at the farm Santa Cecília in the Brazilian coffee growing region of Minas Gerais. The farm has been in the Veloso family for over a hundred years and they are UTZ CERTIFIED since 2004. This means the beans originating from Santa Cecília have been grown in accordance with the UTZ CERTIFIED Code of Conduct for coffee, implementing good agricultural practices and managing the farm profitably with respect for people and environment.

"We have seen the willingness of Tchibo to invest in and commit to sustainability in the long term, when they announced their partnership with UTZ CERTIFIED in 2011," said Han de Groot, Executive Director of UTZ CERTIFIED. "We are excited to see the first Tchibo coffee product with UTZ CERTIFIED coffee beans hit the shelves. Leading companies like Tchibo make it possible for us to fulfill our mission in creating a world where sustainable farming is the norm."  

"Corporation with UTZ CERTIFIED contributes to our strategy - on the way to 100% sustainable coffee," said Achim Lohrie, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Tchibo.

UTZ CERTIFIED experienced a strong growth in 2011 which makes it the largest program in both certified and verified coffee production, and largest in certified coffee volumes actually purchased. In addition, UTZ has the highest ambition for the future in production and sales volumes compared to other sustainability labels worldwide.

About UTZ CERTIFIED

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