Shows
Building Better BusinessHow’s our food and drink changing?In this Fairtrade 30th special, John Steel talks with Cathryn Higgs from the Co-op, Bob Doherty from the University of York, and Silvia Herrera from Mexico’s Ejidos San Fernando coffee cooperative.
They discuss the future of our food, how ethical sourcing is shifting, and why a fair food system is the only way forward.
2024-09-0952 minBuilding Better BusinessThe role of government and law for better businessSahil Kher, Good Law Project; Zack Polanski, Deputy Leader of the Green Party; Becky Annison, Chancery Lane Project; Mhairi Littlewood, Better Business Act Our panel of expert guests reveal the how the Government and the law can tackle the climate crisis with business. Sahil gives his insights on why Good Law Project won a landmark victory against the Government’s unlawfully inadequate Net Zero strategy. Becky and Mhairi explain how changes to business law and contracts would provide a level playing field for companies to operate in a greener way. Zack explains the fundamental role Government needs to pl...
2023-03-1545 minBuilding Better BusinessSave our foodMartin Ndegwa, Mutira Coffee Farmers Association; Emily Pearce, Co-op & Hans Perk, Okiocredit “Everyone needs to come onboard, and we fight this giant that is called climate change.” We risk losing our food supply if we don't take global collective action together with farmers, says Martin from Fairtrade Kenyan coffee cooperative, Mutira Coffee Farmers Association. This Fairtrade Fortnight special podcast features Martin's first-hand experience of climate change, and the Co-op supermarket's initiatives to combat it. We hear from Oikocredit who explain why food can only be secured if farmers receive stable, high prices and agriculture is i...
2023-03-0648 minBuilding Better BusinessAction on plasticHelen Bird, Business Lead Head, WRAP; Lucy Reynolds, CSR Communications VP, Boots; Lee Man, Head of Community Fairtrade and Regenerative Sourcing, The Body Shop. How can we move towards a sustainable use of plastic? Plastic plays a big part in our daily lives, but its detrimental effect on the environment regularly makes the headlines. Our guests share how this is being tackled by business alongside NGOs such as WRAP, and what we can do to help.
For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-03-0133 minBuilding Better BusinessA driver for change: good business governanceAlex Maitland, Oxfam International; James Ghaffari, B Lab & Lebi Hudson, General Manager of RSTGA cooperative in Tanzania + Cafédirect Director Good business governance means its stakeholders - like staff, the environment and farmers - are considered in company decisions. In this episode we talk about why this leads to real positive change – and how this had led to the criticism of Nespresso becoming a B Corp.
For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-02-2238 minBuilding Better BusinessWho grows our food?Dorothy Shaver, Global Food Sustainability Director Unilever; Nick Hoskyns, Peanut & sesame farmer & ETICO Director; + Beatrix Richards Senior Corporate Engagement Manager, Solidaridad Despite small-scale farmers contributing a third of the global food supply, their work is often undervalued and under paid. Our three guests explain the failings of a commodity market which leaves farmers very often living in poverty. They discuss the tactics needed to improve livelihoods on the ground but also the system change required for a fair and equitable trade transformation.
For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-02-1532 minBuilding Better BusinessLet’s fight for our forestsSarah Wakefield, Head of Food Transformation, WWF-UK & Steven Ripley, Group Responsible Sourcing Manager (Forests), Tesco Did you know the food we eat is the main driver of deforestation? We hear from WWF and Tesco about why preserving our precious forests is vital to our existence. Find out what’s being done to preserve them, and how we can all help.
For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-02-0840 minBuilding Better BusinessWhat’s farming got to do with climate change? Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic & Sam Fulton, Group Director of Corporate Affairs, Nomad Foods (Birds Eye) “Our food system accounts for 50% plus of biodiversity loss and 25% of climate change.” Guy and Sam unpick how our food system urgently needs to change. Hear how big agriculture has produced cheap food on mass but now 'threatens life on earth'. Learn what companies are doing to protect our future, but importantly, what more can be done.
For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-02-0149 minBuilding Better BusinessThe race to reduce food’s carbon footprint Mike Barry, Director of Mike Barry Eco Ltd (former Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer) Mike Berners-Lee, author of ‘There is No Planet B’, ‘How Bad Are Bananas?’ and ‘The carbon footprint of everything’, professor and consultant.
“The food industry is a huge part of the climate problem.” With predictions of dangerous global temperatures and failing government policies, two leading experts discuss how food businesses are tackling carbon emissions. They debate where obstacles lie, who should provide support, and how. For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-01-2541 minBuilding Better BusinessWhy coffee is at risk of extinction Guests: Jane Aldrige Managing Director of Coffee Nestlé UK&I + Erinch Sahan, Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL)
Jane and Erinch discuss their different approaches to tackling the issues facing the coffee industry. Jane provides an overview of the Nescafé Plan 2030 while Erinch argues that more significant change is needed to address the poverty that coffee farmers experience despite growing company profits and shareholder dividends. For more information head to: www.cafedirect.co.uk/podcast
2023-01-1835 minBuilding Better BusinessBuilding Better Business - Season 2 TrailerWe all want a healthier planet and fairer future to look forward to. Building Better Business explores how business has a huge impact - and how, as informed customers, we can become part of a positive movement for change through our consumer choice. The podcast features straight talking conversations with global thought leaders and professionals, asking: ‘What are businesses doing to protect our future and what more can be done?’
Hosted by John Steel, CEO of popular British ethical pioneer coffee brand Cafédirect.
2023-01-1600 min
Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation ForumClimate risk and adaptation: How to prepare farmers for the effects of climate changeIn a warming world, farmers remain among the most vulnerable to the increasing environmental hazards brought on by climate change. To mitigate these impacts, business must collaborate with farmers to build their capacity to adapt and adopt climate-smart practices for more resilient livelihoods.
In this webinar, our panel discussed:
How can business enable income diversification for smallholder farmers?
What are the leading strategies, tools, and technologies to help farmers transition to climate-smart agriculture?
What role does regenerative agriculture play in helping to increase climate resilience?
The panel included:
John Steel, CEO, Cafédirect
Hardeep D...
2022-12-0748 minSustainable Business Podcast by Innovation ForumClimate risk and adaptation: How to prepare farmers for the effects of climate changeIn a warming world, farmers remain among the most vulnerable to the increasing environmental hazards brought on by climate change. To mitigate these impacts, business must collaborate with farmers to build their capacity to adapt and adopt climate-smart practices for more resilient livelihoods.
In this webinar, our panel discussed:
How can business enable income diversification for smallholder farmers?
What are the leading strategies, tools, and technologies to help farmers transition to climate-smart agriculture?
What role does regenerative agriculture play in helping to increase climate resilience?
The panel included:
John Steel, CEO, Cafédirect
Hardeep D...
2022-12-0748 min
What Do You Actually Do?Life as a CEO: running CafédirectThink you want to be a CEO? Interested in marketing, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or the world of ethical business? This episode is for you. John Steel is the CEO of Cafédirect and has worked his way up through a number of FMCG businesses after beginning his career in a marketing grad scheme.
Even if you're not interested in this area of work, it's worth listening for John's insights into finding value in your working life.
Find a transcript and useful links on our blog.
More about John and Cafédirect:
...
2022-06-0821 min
The Infinite Prosperity PodcastEp 11: Your Brand in Your SELF is a Recipe for Success - Interview with Sylvie BarrLouisa Havers is a globally recognized Wealth Energetics Expert dedicated to empowering coaches and consultants to break free from their income ceilings and achieve extraordinary financial results.As the visionary creator of The Helix Method® and a Master Akashic Record Channel, Louisa has guided 10,000+ entrepreneurs to achieve rapid, sustainable growth by mastering the subtle yet powerful forces of energy.Louisa’s unique blend of science, spirituality, and proven energetic techniques enables her clients to break through barriers they didn’t even know existed. From achieving six-figure months to experiencing profound shifts in clarity and confidence, Louisa’...
2022-03-1126 minBuilding Better BusinessClimate of crisis for farmers: Fairtrade Fortnight Special Claire Rhodes (CEO, Producers Direct), Ed Gillespie (the Futurenauts podcast, Greenpeace Director) and Sir Tim Smit (founder of the Eden Project) join John for a live recording of this Fairtrade Fortnight special edition. Our guests delve into how climate change is affecting the farmers that grow our food, what that means for all of us and how we can all help. We cover: - The reliance on small-scale farmers for food and commodities and their vulnerability to climate shocks - The challenges facing small-scale farmers and who benefits from the trading system
2022-03-0447 min
LSE Focal Point PodcastJohn Steel - CEO of CafedirectJoin us for another fascinating episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by John Steel, the CEO of Cafedirect. Prior to his role at Cafedirect, he was the Chair of UK Fairtrade Leaders and a London Leaders Mentor for the London Sustainable Development Commission.
Recorded in November 2021.
2022-02-0821 minBuilding Better BusinessHow Fairtrade tea began, Mike Brehme, founder of Clipper Teas Mike Brehme took a leading role bringing good quality, ethical tea to the UK market and Clipper Teas is now the world’s largest Fairtrade tea brand. Mike established Clipper in the mid 1980’s and as Managing Director, he ran the business for 25 years until 2008. Mike worked with the Fairtrade Foundation in their early days and defined what Fairtrade looked like in the tea industry.
He shares how he’s seen Fairtrade tackle the extreme inequality that exists in these tea communities, and how he’s witnessed the wildlife benefits of organic tea plantations.
2022-01-1923 minBuilding Better BusinessRethinking economics to save the planet, Erinch Sahan, Doughnut Economics Action Lab Erinch’s career at Oxfam and then CEO of the World Fair Trade Organisation has led him to his latest endeavour at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). Erinch tells us about doughnut economics – the theory by British economist Kate Raworth, which argues that 20th century economic thinking is not equipped to deal with the 21st century reality of a planet teetering on the edge of climate breakdown. The theory calls for a new way of business that will better serve our communities within the planet’s boundaries, rather than an endless pursuit of profit.
Erich shares how DE...
2022-01-1226 min
Research and InnovationA balancing act between sustainability and profitabilityIn this episode, Professor Kerrie Unsworth (Leeds University Business School) and John Steel (Cafédirect) discuss the tensions and potential trade-offs between social, environmental, and financial goals. Kerrie asks John about Cafédirect’s take on sustainability and social justice. This podcast episode was recorded remotely in December 2021. If you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. For further information on Professor Unsworth's research, visit her webpage: Sustainable and productive?! Helping manufacturing SMEs to manage multiple goals.About the speakers:
2022-01-1017 minBuilding Better BusinessBusiness where society profits, Peter Holbrook, CEO Social Enterprise UKPeter joins us from the UK body for social enterprise, which is a business with a social or environmental mission. From building markets for social enterprises to public facing campaigns, they amplify the voice of their members and influence decision makers.
Peter has had a fascinating career working at Oxfam, Greenpeace and other charities, and now campaigns for economic change by advocating business models that consider all its stakeholders and the environment.
2022-01-0527 minBuilding Better BusinessChanging trade with producer partnerships, Albert Tucker, consultant Most of our valued commodities, including coffee, are produced by people in some of the poorest conditions in the world. Albert Tucker’s career has been dedicated to working to create equal partnerships with producer cooperatives and community leaders to change the way trade is done.
Albert was instrumental in pushing for farmers to take leadership roles at Fairtrade and Cafédirect and he tells us how this brought their entrepreneurial expertise and origin knowledge to great advantage, something he strongly advocates for all businesses.
2021-12-1529 minBuilding Better BusinessGetting creative on waste, Kresse Wesling, Elvis & KresseKresse Wesling is an environmental entrepreneur that set up Elvis & Kresse – a company that makes gorgeous luxury accessories from reclaimed materials. Kresse inspires us to think about the huge potential of the waste that normally goes into landfill, and how we can make something truly special out of it.
We get Kresse’s thoughts on what solutions are needed to tackle waste, one of the biggest environmental challenges we face, and hear about the remarkable regenerative agriculture project that she is undertaking.
2021-12-0840 min
Big Business Briefs181: Hemp, Show Your Work & John Steel of CafedirectHeather Noble & Tracy Jones present Big Business Briefs (formerly The Business Community), Episode 181.
If you like what you hear then perhaps you would considering buying us a coffee (we love coffee!), or a book (we also love books!) www.buymeacoffee.com/tbcpodcast
2021-12-0249 minBuilding Better BusinessFighting slavery through good business, Ben Greensmith, Tony’s ChocolonelyChild-labour and slavery in the cocoa industry is rife but Tony’s Chocolonely uses its delicious tasting chocolate and its different business model to make change across the industry. Ben Greensmith started his career in food and drink over 20 years ago, and he has grown brands including Innocent and Proper Snacks and now as UK Country Manager at the sixth biggest chocolate brand in the UK, Tony’s Chocolonely.
Ben tells us who are the culprits, what Tony’s Chocolonely is doing to change consumers’ habits and industry practice, and how their how their sourcing principles are help...
2021-12-0141 minBuilding Better BusinessTurning passion into business, Jenny Costa founder of Rubies in the RubbleJenny Costa founder of Rubies in the Rubble, a sustainable condiments brand that uses surplus fruit and vegetables, joins John this week. Jenny started the business through her passion for avoiding food waste and desire to tackle the enormous problem that it poses globally. Food production and waste is a huge contributor to climate change, and Jenny saw a situation so wrong that she wanted to make change.
Here is her story on how she started Rubies in the Rubble and how she grew it into the successful business it is today.
2021-11-2437 minBuilding Better BusinessWhy Fairtrade is important for all of us, Mike Gidney, CEO Fairtrade FoundationFairtrade works to provide worker’s rights, safer working conditions and fairer pay to farmers and workers who are marginalised from trade in various ways. Trade on favourable terms strengthens economies by improving livelihoods and communities, and helps farmers adapt to and mitigate against climate change.
Mike explains how working closely with producers and leveraging these relationships has incredible advantages for a business.
2021-11-1741 minBuilding Better BusinessPeople make the world go round, James Rutter, COOKCOOK is a hugely impressive company. Caring about people is in their DNA and they’re always coming up with new ways to help the people in their communities and see the potential in their staff.
The hand-made frozen food company has been ranked in the top 100 Best Companies To Work For every year since 2013 and Chief Creative Officer, James Rutter, shares how being people focused has been their recipe for success.
2021-11-1038 minBuilding Better BusinessThe bitter story behind tea, Andrew Ethuru, Kenyan tea farmerAndrew Ethuru, Kenyan tea farmer and former Cafédirect Board Director Andrew gives us insights into where our tea comes from and why buying ethical tea that pays a fair price to farmers is vital in ensuring its future. We discuss how tea prices and climate change are the biggest challenges faced by tea farmers, which can only be combated collectively. Andrew recalls his time as a Director on the Cafédirect Board and how his farming experience was valuable in shaping the business.
Hear his accounts of some of Cafédirect’s producer suppo...
2021-11-0323 minBuilding Better BusinessThe power of enterprise, Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO Oxfam GB The power of enterprise, Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO Oxfam GB Oxfam sees enterprise as a hugely powerful tool to tackle poverty, improve lives and livelihoods where it’s needed most. CEO Danny Sriskandarajah notes how current levels of global consumerism are deeply unsustainable and that business as usual must change urgently so that resources are shared more fairly and to live safely within the planet’s boundaries.
Hear him explain the direct link between climate action and tackling poverty and hunger, both of which are on the rise as inequality rises in countries around the worl
2021-10-2733 minBuilding Better BusinessFuture-proofing your business, Kate Sandle, Director of Programmes and Engagement, B Corp UKKate Sandle Director of Programmes and Engagement, B Corp UK.Kate Sandle Director of Programmes and Engagement at B Lab tells us about B Corps who are leading the way in transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet. Kate explains how business is the key to tackling the climate emergency, racial injustice and social inequality and offers insights into what support is on offer for businesses and how to get certified.
We discuss how society’s expectations of business have changed and how both business and the legal system ne...
2021-10-2034 minBuilding Better BusinessThe wisdom in producer partnerships, Claire Rhodes, CEO of Producers DirectClaire Rhodes is CEO of Producers Direct, a charity set up by Cafedirect in 2009 to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Producers Direct is led by farmers and runs programmes to turn smallholder farms into sustainable businesses. Claire talks about the advantages of a charity led by international smallholder farmers and how its seen huge entrepreneurial successes by harnessing their knowledge.
With 80% of the world’s food and commodities coming from smallholder farmers, they are essential to our food and agricultural systems. As farmers battle with the effects of climate change Claire explains how urgently businesses ne...
2021-10-1341 minBuilding Better BusinessLeading a purpose driven business, Sophi Tranchell, former CEO of Divine Chocolate This week’s guest is Sophi Tranchell, former Managing Director of Fairtrade chocolate brand Divine. Sophi shares her experiences of 21 years leading a truly unique business that was set up by cocoa farmers in Ghana who also sit on the Board and own shares in the company. Sophi recollects the thrills of working for a radical business model that has improved the lives of cocoa farmers in West Africa and through its success has been the catalyst for change in the chocolate industry. Hear Sophi’s views on inhouse ethical certifications on chocolate and her...
2021-10-0634 minBuilding Better BusinessHow to create a better business, Pauline Tiffen, consultantAs head of Twin Trading Pauline Tiffen led the work to set up ground-breaking companies like Cafédirect and Divine Chocolate and created linkages for farmers and artisans from all over the world. Pauline has worked to make trade fair for over 30 years: as company director, innovator, advisor, consultant and writer. Pauline explains how she sees recent social movements like Black Lives Matter as an evolution of the fair trade movement and what consumers need to look out for when trying to buy ethically.
Pauline is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Fair Trade w...
2021-09-2936 minBuilding Better BusinessYour banking can create positive change, with Bevis Watts, CEO of Triodos Bank UKOur money has huge potential to create positive change. In this episode we speak to Bevis Watts, UK CEO of sustainable bank Triodos. Triodos only invests in sustainable projects that benefit both people and planet. They work side by side with social enterprises and companies looking to invest in a brighter, purpose-driven future. It’s clear banking needs to play a different role in society if we’re going to rectify our current climate crisis – investments need to be made based more on their societal value rather than the financial returns.
Hear Bevis explain why dramat...
2021-09-2225 min
The FMCG InsiderThe Future of Coffee with John SteelIn the fifth episode of Season 3 of The FMCG Insider, in association with HRA Global, Hamish chats to Cafédirect's John Steel. CEO of the UK's very first certified B-Corp Certified coffee company, John has been instrumental in making the unique coffee company's business model a success. Over 30 minutes, John and Hamish discuss advantages of social enterprises and how these appeal to the younger generation coming into the workforce as well as the importance of being ethically motivated whilst maintaining a profitable business. If you would like to feature on the podcast or have any qu...
2021-09-1632 minBuilding Better BusinessAchieving best-in-class business as a social enterprise, with John Philips, global business leader The leadership of any business is critical for its success – but what does that look like for a social enterprise? What challenges and advantages can be harnessed by a business with purpose, to compete in a competitive marketplace? And what should be an absolute priority to be a best-in-class business? John Philips has over 30 years of experience in building successful global businesses and brands including DIAGEO, Barcardi and Fosters.
In recent years, John joined as Chair of Cafédirect where he has been instrumental in modernising the business. He shares his wisdom on the fundamentals to get...
2021-09-1526 minBuilding Better BusinessThe difference we can all make, with Paul Chandler, Co-op Board DirectorIn an incredibly inspiring episode, Paul Chandler shows how the small actions of individuals can make big changes. And that we all hold the power to make positive change in our own way. Paul is the previous Chief Executive of the online fair trade organisation, Traidcraft and former President of the European Fair Trade Association. He is a Board member of the Co-op Group amongst other Board positions within other ethical companies. We discuss the need for the right guardianship in any business with purpose, to ensure it stays true to its values – and how credibility an...
2021-09-0829 minBuilding Better BusinessThe ripple effect of trading directly, with Richard Hide, coffee traderRichard has dedicated the past 30 years to connecting coffee farmers to markets that have the most impact on the communities they come from. He pioneered the UK's direct coffee trading in the early 1990s for Cafédirect. It’s taken him to remote farming communities across the globe in search of small coffee cooperatives. He’s had tremendously exciting and challenging journeys, the greatest reward being the pride farmers took in having their coffee and hard work recognized and rewarded for the first time. Through discovery and development, the cooperatives realised the potential of their coffee.
He ex...
2021-09-0129 minBuilding Better BusinessHow and why business models must change, with Bob Doherty, academicAs an academic Bob has published extensively on social enterprise business models including Cafédirect and is a trustee on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation. Before his life in academia Bob worked as Head of Sales at social enterprise, Divine Chocolate. Bob explains why the traditional pursuit of business profit is destructive and offers advice to businesses and consumers on what we can do in our daily lives to do better and make change. He explores where our food comes from and comments on the fragility of a food system under threat and how beneficial i...
2021-08-2527 minBuilding Better BusinessBuilding Better Business - TrailerThe food and drink we buy has a monumental impact on the lives of farmers and their communities throughout the globe. Each week, join John Steel, CEO of Cafédirect, the pioneering social enterprise that works in direct partnership with the farmers that grow your coffee, tea and cocoa. We’ll be exploring extraordinary tales of 30 years of doing business differently, speaking with those that believe business is more than making money and looking forward to how we all can build better business. If you want to hear personal stories about the birth of a different busi...
2021-07-0501 min
Sip by Sip with Keoni D'SouzaCup 8, Intense Roast: Deliciously dark and richWe're kicking off a new series with a cup that was broadcast live! It didn't go well, but here's a heavily edited version anyway. Join me in my eighth cup, with Lewis, Callum, Matt and Jev, as we all sample Cafédirect's intense roast, talk about lockdowns 2 and 3, and play a couple of ill-premised games.
2021-05-161h 17
The Leader Insights Series PodcastEp19. John Steel, Chief Executive Officer of CafedirectFor the past 9 years, John has been the CEO of Cafedirect - one of the founding businesses of the Fairtrade movement and the UK's first B-Corp accredited Coffee Company.
With a successful career spanning over 3 decades, John can be regarded as a pioneer in the purpose-driven business movement. Especially passionate about supporting people at the beginning of the supply chain, John & Cafedirect work in collaboration with the award-winning charity Producers Direct to deliver real change to Farmers livelihoods.
In this episode, we learn about John's background, how he came to work in this industry and...
2021-05-1241 min
Sustainability SolvedE103 - Roxy Rocks-Engelman from CafédirectRoxy Rocks-Engelman is the Sustainability Communications Manager at Cafédirect, a coffee company that supplies high-quality coffee and whose mission is focused on empowering smallholder growers to improve their livelihood. Don't miss out our weekly interviews with sustainable businesses from different industries and sizes. Get inspirational insights that you can implement in your day-to-day and other bespoke content for you. Subscribe now!Mentioned in this episode:Apply to become an Ambassador today!Earn extra income while being part of a growing community accelerating the sustainable future we all need. A...
2020-09-2138 min
The Ethical Agenda with Safia MinneySafia Minney meets John Steel
Episode 15: John Steel
Safia talks to John Steel, CEO of Cafédirect, about the iconic & pioneering Fairtrade coffee brand that put Fairtrade into our supermarkets in the 1990s.
John explains how starting his career with Rowntree, a company established on Quaker traditions, grounded him in the guiding principle that business should be about improving society and not just about making money. Rowntree was acquired by Nestle in 1988. “We need to find a way of getting the world to change more rapidly and have generosity of spirit that human beings should have,” says John.
2020-03-0435 min
Good PodcastsWhat does it take for a social enterprise to compete with private sector players?Recently, Cafédirect and Greenwich Leisure Limited have had to switch up their marketing to keep up in competitive markets. We heard from two of the minds behind these strategies at our Good Stories conference earlier this year.Thanks for listening to our stories. As an entrepreneur yourself, you'll know that producing quality work doesn’t come free. We rely on our subscribers to sustain our journalism – so if you think it's worth having an independent, specialist media platform that covers social enterprise stories, please consider subscribing. You'll also be buying social: Pioneers Post is a social enterprise itself, reinvesting all our...
2019-05-3116 min
EnvironmentCoffee growers combat climate changeClimate change has had a devastating impact on coffee farmers in Peru with torrential rain and flooding destroying their crops. Cafedirect's ground breaking reforestation project is helping to mitigate these problems and create an innovative sustainable financing solution.
2012-05-1400 min
Spring 2011 | Public lectures and events | Audio and pdfHas Fairtrade Asked for Enough?Contributor(s): Adam Brett, Deborah Doane, Julia Clark, Robin Murray | In this discussion event, a range of speakers look back over 15 years of the Fairtrade Mark and consider whether the movement for a fairer trading system has been ambitious enough. Is Fairtrade catalysing broader social change? Should Fairtrade be working with big corporates and retailers? Is Fairtrade moving producers up the value chain? Is it time to make the rules harder? Adam Brett co-founded Tropical Wholefoods, and is a director of Fullwell Mill, and the Out of this World UK healthfood retailing chain. He has been a self employed entrepreneur...
2011-03-011h 20Spring 2011 | Public lectures and events | VideoHas Fairtrade Asked for Enough?Contributor(s): Adam Brett, Deborah Doane, Julia Clark, Robin Murray | In this discussion event, a range of speakers look back over 15 years of the Fairtrade Mark and consider whether the movement for a fairer trading system has been ambitious enough. Is Fairtrade catalysing broader social change? Should Fairtrade be working with big corporates and retailers? Is Fairtrade moving producers up the value chain? Is it time to make the rules harder? Adam Brett co-founded Tropical Wholefoods, and is a director of Fullwell Mill, and the Out of this World UK healthfood retailing chain. He has been a self employed entrepreneur...
2011-03-011h 20
jimsevenNew Consumer TV item on FT/Organic Supermarket CoffeesA while ago some people rang up and asked Anette if she wanted to cup some supermarket and branded FairTrade and Organic coffees for a short tv item. She said no and passed them on to me, and for some reason I said yes.
Cafe Direct had heavy involvement and the other cupper who I would be tasting with was Thierry from TWIN (who source for Cafe Direct). We were to cup 6 coffees blind and initially supposed to give them a score. However I felt quite uncomfortable giving them a score as the best wasn’t even a...
2007-07-2100 min