Waitrose to Begin Stocking Fairtrade Cola

Ubuntu Cola was the first cola to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK and it fizzes with Fairtrade sugar from the Kasinthula Cooperative in Malawi and from the Kaleya Cooperative in Zambia.

2 Mar 2010 --- Proving that Fairtrade isn’t just about bananas and coffee, Waitrose says it is is proud to be the first supermarket to stock Ubuntu Cola from March 1. As a leading ethical retailer, Waitrose is supporting the makers of the first Fairtrade pop, by exclusively stocking it in fifty branches nationwide.

‘Ubuntu’ is a South African term for humanity and kindness. The company, The Ubuntu Trading Comapny, which sources sugar from Malawi, will donate at least 15% of their annual profits to the Ubuntu Africa Program. ‘Ubuntu’ is about sharing, and the people behind the pop believe in investing their profits back into the soul of the company: the farmers and their families growing the sugar cane, and the people of Malawi.

Ubuntu Cola was the first cola to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK and it fizzes with Fairtrade sugar from the Kasinthula Cooperative in Malawi and from the Kaleya Cooperative in Zambia.

James Hodgson, Waitrose drinks buyer says: ‘We’re always looking for great tasting drinks, and every so often a product really shines because of its story and its ethical contribution. Ubuntu Cola is an example of the great things we can do with Fairtrade, and it is a pleasure to be able to stock a drink which is playing such a positive role in the industry.’

Miranda Walker from Ubuntu says: ‘Every time you drink an Ubuntu Cola you are directly taking part in the Fairtrade movement – contributing to long term development and real opportunities for African producer communities. Additionally, as a company we will to continue to encourage and support projects showing entrepreneurship and creative ways to tackle poverty. We want to make Fairtrade accessible to more people, we know people love the taste of Ubuntu Cola and being stocked in Waitrose stores is a great step forward for us.’

Ubuntu Cola will be available in 50 Waitrose stores from 1st March. 59p for a 330ml can.

Branches stocking the cola are: Abingdon, Ampthill, Beaconsfield, Beckenham, Billericay, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Chichester, Christchurch, Colchester, Comely Bank, Daventry Droitwich, East Grinstead, Farnham, Finchley, Great Malvern, Hersham, Hitchin, John Lewis Foodhall Bluewater, John Lewis Foodhall Oxford Street, Kensington, Lichfield, Lincoln, Lymington, Maidenhead, Newark, Newbury, Paddock Wood, Parkstone, Pontprennau, Reading, Rickmansworth, Romsey, Rushden, Salisbury, Saltash, Sandbach, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend, St Albans, Stroud, Sudbury, Swaffham, Tonbridge, Twickenham, Willerby, Witney, Wolverhampton, Worcester Park.