Cocoa and Coffee
Most of the world’s cocoa and coffee is grown by small-scale farmers who face many challenges like economical, operational or environmental issues. This can include poor soil fertility management, aging tree stock, improper use of chemicals, deforestation and poverty.
Luckily, organizations like Fairtrade, Fair Trade USA and Rainforest Alliance work with farmers to promote sustainable practices. They also certify that cocoa or coffee products are from a farm that follows specific social and environmental standards like:
- Strict requirements for farming management
- Safe and healthy working conditions
- Protection of the environment
More than 50 coffee products are currently certified as sustainable, and ALDI is the second-largest private-label purchaser of Fair Trade USA coffee. In addition, we are on track to have all Barissimo, Simply Nature and Specially Selected coffees certified as sustainably sourced by the end of 2022. All ALDI exclusive-brand chocolate bars and chocolate confectionary are certified as sustainably sourced by Fairtrade, Fair Trade USA or Rainforest Alliance.
We're proud to say that 100% of our exclusive Moser Roth and Choceur brands of chocolate are made with certified sustainable chocolate.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade is an organized social movement that advocates for farmers to be appropriately compensated and teaches them how to build sustainable businesses so they can have a positive influence on their community and environment.
Fair Trade USA
Fair Trade USA is an independent, third party certification organization that betters the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries by inspiring businesses to implement ethical production practices and assisting shoppers in making informed purchasing decisions. Fairtrade America is the US chapter of Fairtrade International, the OG - original + global - leader in fair trade certification with more than 30 years of experience working for fair trading practices in more than 30 countries across the globe. A non-profit 501(c)3 organization, they are the world's largest and most recognized fair-trade system-part of a global movement for change.
Rainforest Alliance
ALDI U.S. proudly sources cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms, an organization that helps to increase cocoa sustainability across the globe. Due to the large volume of cocoa purchased by ALDI, as well as the high cost of ensuring separation of certified and uncertified cocoas throughout the manufacturing process, our Rainforest Alliance Certified™ cocoa suppliers mix certified and uncertified cocoa in a way that meets our quality and flavor requirements, while also adhering to Rainforest Alliance’s cocoa mixing rules. This means that, while we cannot guarantee that certified cocoa will be present in each cocoa product that has the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ sourcing label, we know that our cocoa purchases help to ensure cocoa is grown and harvested using environmentally and socially responsible methods.
For more information about Rainforest Alliance certification and cocoa mixing rules, visit Rainforest Alliance Certification.