Kahlúa Achieves Coffee Supply Chain Transparency - 100% of Its Coffee Now Sourced Through "Coffee for Good" Project
TORONTO, Dec. 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Kahlúa, the world's leading coffee liqueur brand, has reached a significant milestone in its ambition to gain transparency and traceability in its supply chain. To achieve this, the brand has mapped all steps of its supply chain to identify any potential risk areas. Today, 100% of its key ingredient, Arabica coffee, has full traceability and is solely sourced from the remote Mexican farming communities participating in its 'Coffee for Good' initiative, launched in 2016.
Over the past six years, Kahlúa has been working with a local NGO, Fondo Para La Paz in four local communities in the mountains of Veracruz, Mexico. Together, they have been investing in better living and working conditions for farmers, establishing good agricultural practices, and protecting the region's biodiversity. Having nurtured close relationships with farmers, Kahlúa now is confident that its coffee is derived from a more sustainable source.
Kahlúa's milestone comes with brands and retailers facing mounting pressure from their customers to provide greater transparency into their supply chains. Customers are demanding more information on where a product originated and what environmental impact it has had.
Lynne Millar, Director of Purchasing, Kahlúa, commented: "It's paramount that we have traceability across our coffee supply chain – not only for our own peace of mind, but it's essential that we provide the same assurances to our retail customers."
Having started in Ocotempa, a remote village in the Veracruz mountains, the project focuses on three interconnected themes – social, economic and environmental – to help smallholder farmers move towards a sustainable farming model and improved living conditions.
The project starts by addressing communities' most basic needs, such as improving access to fresh water and sanitation. Extensive planting is undertaken – replacing old and less productive trees with new disease-resistant plants that are more resilient to climate change. With the advice from experts, the "Coffee for Good" program has provided nutritional packages and fertilizers to nurture young trees – as well as protect the environment and biodiversity. Establishing strong bonds between villages has also been vital in creating community support and encouraging knowledge sharing.
Since the project began 704 farmers have been trained, 214 dry toilets built, more than 213,500 coffee trees planted and around 70 women are now in leadership roles. The project continues to evolve, and the next priority is to certify the work of the farmers and set the standard for two new villages added to the Coffee for Good program.
Lynne continued: "Sustainability means changing, improving and investing now for the benefit of a greater and more secure future. We have helped farmers introduce techniques and farm management practices that will not only maximise yields and combat climate change but guarantee to preserve the nature and biodiversity of their surroundings.
We have provided training on how to grow and market other crops, in addition to coffee that can help provide an alternative income stream and improve livelihoods by reducing dependence on a single crop. We also wanted our farmers to become more entrepreneurial, which many have and one of our farming families has created its own coffee brand. It is important to us that the farmers don't sell 100% of their coffee to Kahlúa. We must ensure that they are not wholly dependent on one customer."
Craig van Niekerk, Global VP of Marketing for Malibu and Kahlúa, said: "We want to go further. Coffee for Good is at the heart of our brand. This year, we have added another two villages to our program, Popocatepec and Mitepec. We are also looking at the potential for youth scholarships at local agricultural colleges. In the past, younger generations have been quick to migrate to Mexico City to seek work but through the project's success, many younger people believe that there is a future in coffee farming after all."
To learn more about Coffee for Good visit: The Promise Behind Our Coffee.
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spirits and wines. Corby's portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser's®, Lot 40®, and Pike Creek® Canadian whiskies, Lamb's® rum, Polar Ice® vodka, McGuinness® liqueurs, Ungava® gin, Cabot Trail® maple-based liqueurs and Chic Choc® Spiced rum, and Foreign Affair® wines. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine's® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob's Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, and Kenwood® wines. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B. For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.
The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for production, packaging innovation and strategic marketing of Absolut Vodka, Malibu and Kahlúa. Absolut Vodka is one of the world's top ten international spirits brands. Every bottle of Absolut Vodka comes from one source, Åhus in southern Sweden. Malibu is the number one rum-based coconut spirit in the world. Kahlúa coffee liqueur is the world leader in its category. The Absolut Company portfolio also includes Åhus Akvavit. The head office is in Stockholm, Sweden. Chairman and CEO is Stéphanie Durroux.
Absolut Home, located next to the production site for Absolut Vodka, was opened in 2018.
The Absolut Company is part of Pernod Ricard, the world's second-largest wine and spirits producer (source: IWSR).
SOURCE Corby Spirit and Wine Communications
Please contact: Valerie Brive-Turtle, Senior Director, Communications, Public Relations and S&R, Corby Spirit and Wine, Email: [email protected]
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