Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/68592
CANDY COUNTER FAIR TRADE ALTERNATIVES S ome chocolate producers are adding to their fair-trade certification—or forgoing it altogether—with other certifications or associations. We asked them why and what it's meant for business. Direct Trade: Askinosie Chocolate, Springfield, Mo., chose not to pursue fair trade certification. "We feel that our standards and practices are higher and better and have more meaning," says Lawren Askinosie, director of sales and marketing. "In fact, we pay more per ton for our beans than what even Fair Trade [USA} deems fair and above market price." The chocolate company practices direct trade, which means the company uses no middlemen. "We work with very small farmer groups, which allows our products to be 100 percent traceable," continues Askinosie. "We know the name of each farmer we work with, and because the groups are small we can work with them to harvest and ferment the beans and that allows us to craft the highest-quality chocolate." "We are very proud to have been the first importer of cacao beans from the Philippines since the 1600s, and have had an impact in rejuvenating their cacao exports, albeit in a small way," she says. The company also works with the only woman-led farmer group in Tanzania, making an impact on the demand for their cacao beans, which has allowed the group to command more fair prices to their other buyers. "There are larger companies (whom we won't name) that buy their beans from Tanzania that have asked us to stop paying so much more above the market price because now the farmers are negotiating with them," Askinosie adds. "It's things like this that make us smile." Rainforest Alliance: Dagoba Organic Chocolate, based in Ashland, Ore., has long carried the fair-trade logo on a number of its products. Next year the company will begin marketing with the Rainforest Alliance seal of approval instead. The international conservation-focused organization focuses on ways to better conserve natural resources and provide environmental education to (continued on p. 58) Nothing stacks up to the unique, crispy taste of John Wm. Macy's CheeseCrisps. While others try to create a crispy, delicious and spicy treat as good as John Wm. Macy's CheeseCrisps, they just don't stack up. The special combination of fine cheeses and spices, uniquely layered and baked twice for "the perfect crunch," just can't be duplicated. For over 25 years, John Wm. Macy's CheeseSticks, CheeseCrisps and SweetSticks have been pleasing customers and stumping competitors, while emptying shelves daily. Sounds like the only thing stacking up are your profits, that sounds pretty tasty, doesn't it? John Wm. Macy's CheeseSticks cheesesticks.com Summer Fancy Food Show Booth 622 56 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE ❘ specialtyfood.com