Suppliers

The Co-op is calling on all chocolate manufacturers to launch at least one product with the Fair Trade mark in their range, after the announcement on November 26 that the company was switching the supply of the cocoa used in all Co-op brand block chocolate to fairtrade cocoa. Meanwhile a new international Fairtrade trademark is being introduced for all products certified by the Fairtrade Foundation, starting from mid-October. The trademark will be used across the 17 countries that make up the Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International. Contact Martin Henderson, The Co-op, on 0161 827 5292 (http://www.co-op.co.uk); Eileen Maybin, Fairtrade Foundation, on 020 7405 5942 (http://www.fairtrade.org.uk)

Arcadia came under fire on November 19 when reports emerged that workers in a supplier's London factory were being forced to work in freezing temperatures and dangerous conditions. The minister for employment relations, Alan Johnson MP, announced the launch of an investigation into the factories on November 20. Chief executive, Philip Green, promised the garments would be destroyed rather than sold, and said the supplier concerned would lose his contract with the company. Contact Sandra Bull, Arcadia, on 020 7927 1877 (http://www.arcadiagroup.co.uk)

The Ethical Trading Initiative and Just Pensions are offering fund managers a new tool to investigate company performance on labour standards in their supply chains, with the publication of a consultation in November. The paper addresses how a company establishes credible policies, as well as looking at implementation and management systems. Contact Dan Rees, ETI, on 020 7404 1463 (http://www.ethicaltrade.org)