Bewley's announces fairtrade deal

Bewley's today announced a further $1.5m (€1.2m) in ethically certified contracts to support sustainable coffee production practices in Central America.

The contract is for fairtrade-certified coffee which will be supplied by the Soppexcca Farmers Co-operative at Jinotega in Nicaragua.

This development forms part of wider long term sustainability initiatives at Bewley's, with the company also recently saying it will become Ireland's first fully certified carbon-neutral coffee company by the end of 2008.

Jim Corbett, managing director of Bewleys Foodservice, commented: “The quality of living and co-existence between farmers, crops, wildlife and surrounding communities must be preserved.

“This has to be achieved in a manner that also promotes economic benefits for communities in coffee-producing countries.”