Cafédirect wins sustainability award for its Producer Partnership Programme

http://www.cokecce.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Fairtrade ](http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/)hot drink supplier [Cafédirect ](http://www.cafedirect.co.uk/)has won the [Social Impact award](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/cafedirect-redefining-fair-trade) at the [Guardian Sustainable Business Awards 2011](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/gsb-awards-winners-2011) for the Producer Partnership Programme (PPP) it created in 1996.

The judges concluded that: "Cafédirect's producer partnership programme is truly integrated into the business and not just an add-on"

The group launched the PPP to address the needs of producer groups in the developing world that were not yet being met by the principal tenets of Fairtrade for a minimum price and a social premium.

Cafédirect has ploughed back more than 50% of its profits into the scheme, which has funded projects aimed at providing extra support to gain and maintain Fairtrade certification, strengthening leadership, mitigating risk, improving product quality and increasing processing skills.

Along with a clutch of other green and sustainable awards, Cafédirect has also won 15 Great Taste Awards from the [Guild of Fine Food](http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/) over the past three years.

â- Two other food suppliers were listed in the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards. They are:

Unilever - - runner-up in the Supply Chain award for its Sustainable Sourcing Strategy

[The Coca-Cola Company- runner-up in the Water award for its Water Conservation Goal: Reduce, Recycle & Replenish