Manchester Diocese commissions a fairly traded bar

The Diocese of Manchester is the first in the Church of England to commission its own fairly traded chocolate bar. The bars of delicious chocolate were given out at an event at Manchester Cathedral, during Fairtrade Fortnight, designed to raise awareness of the continuing importance of buying Fairtrade products to improve the quality of life of producers. 

The bars were launched at a special event held in Manchester Cathedral on 22 February , 2019. Speakers at the event included the Bishop of Bolton, Councillor Rabnawaz Akbar, Lord Mayor Councillor June Hitchen and Tim Aldred, Head of Policy at the Fairtrade Foundation.

The Bishop of Bolton, The Rt Revd Mark Ashcroft, said, “Delicious chocolate and the Fairtrade badge are a marriage made in heaven! Every time we buy Fairtrade products we are lifting people out of poverty, giving dignity to the families of the poorest communities across the world, and living out justice in daily life.”

The new chocolate bars have been produced by local Fairtrade business, The Meaningful Chocolate Company. The bars carry the Church of England-Diocese of Manchester logo and are made from high quality Fairtrade milk chocolate. The cocoa beans come from the Ivory Coast and the sugar from a number of cooperatives across the globe. The growers receive a fair price for their produce along with a Fairtrade Premium cash donation which can be used to improve their communities.

The Director of the Meaningful Chocolate Company, David Marshall, said; “We are delighted to provide the Diocese of Manchester with its own  Fairtrade bar. Manchester has a strong history of fighting for justice and this simple bar of chocolate is modern way of giving those who grow our food a fair price for their work.”