This action has now been closed. Thanks to all who sent an email to Andrew Fraser, Managing Director of Cadbury congratulating them on switching their Dairy Milk bar to Fairtrade cocoa and calling on them to switch to Fairtrade ingredients for all of their chocolate.
A total of 512 emails were sent using the e-action on our website, but we also asked people to email feedback@cadbury.co.nz directly so the total number of emails sent was likely much higher.
Some of the promotional and explanatory text for this e-action is retained for archive purposes.
Dear fan of Oxfam New Zealand
You may have heard in the news that Cadbury New Zealand has announced plans to purchase Fairtrade cocoa from farmers in Ghana for all Dairy Milk chocolate bars by Easter next year. This is a major win for Fairtrade supporters and will make a real difference to the lives of cocoa farmers in Ghana. These farmers will receive a fair price for their produce, and sufficient income to support their families and communities.
The significance of this decision is really highlighted when you consider the fact that Cadbury’s switch to Fairtrade will triple the quantity of Fairtrade products available in New Zealand, and will mean that Fairtrade chocolate will be available in almost every supermarket and dairy across New Zealand. We’re certainly going to have a lot of work on our plates at Oxfam updating our Where to Buy Fairtrade list!
Consumer power
Cadbury’s decision demonstrates the difference consumers can make when they stand up for what they believe in. It is a real tribute to people like you who support the Fairtrade campaign and have been pushing for change with your consumer decisions and your voice.
Cadbury have at this stage only committed to sourcing Fairtrade ingredients for their Dairy Milk chocolate bars. Now is the perfect time to contact them and congratulate them on their decision, and encourage them to use only Fairtrade ingredients for all of their chocolate.
It is also the perfect time to put pressure on their major New Zealand competitor Whittakers, and encourage them to follow suit by switching to Fairtrade.
The more we ask for Fairtrade products, the more manufacturers, supermarkets and cafes will have to listen.
Write to Cadbury
Email Cadbury congratulating them on switching to Fairtrade cocoa for their Dairy Milk chocolate bars. It is always great to give people positive encouragement, so make the email positive in tone, but also encourage them to switch their entire line to Fairtrade.
Email: feedback@cadbury.co.nz and address to Andrew Fraser (Managing Director)
We have included below example emails. You’re welcome to copy this text, but you’ll have more impact if you write your email in your own words and make it personal.
Please copy us into the email (campaigns@oxfam.org.nz) so that we can track how many are sent, and please let us know what response you get.
Example email to Cadbury
Dear Andrew Fraser,
I am a supporter of Fairtrade and would like to congratulate Cadbury on committing to switch to Fairtrade cocoa for all of your Dairy Milk chocolate bars. This is a significant development for cocoa farmers in Ghana who will receive a fair price for their produce and sufficient income to support their families and communities.
It is great to see Cadbury leading the way on this amongst major chocolate manufacturers in New Zealand. It is fantastic to think that from Easter next year I will able to purchase fairly traded chocolate wherever I shop.
Switching to Fairtrade cocoa for your Dairy Milk bars is a great first step, but I encourage you to go even further than this. If Cadbury is committed to Fairtrade, you should demonstrate this commitment by sourcing all of your ingredients for all of your chocolate from Fairtrade sources where available.
Wouldn’t it be incredible if you could say that your entire chocolate range was guaranteed slave free, and that the farmers were earning a decent living from their hard work!
Congratulations again on this significant move.
Yours sincerely,
