Vienna/Vevey (OTS) – Nestlé is the first Kit Kat introduced with cocoa mass made from cocoa beans from farming families participating in the company’s Income Accelerator Program. This Kit Kat aims to raise awareness of the sustainability of the cocoa used in the iconic bars.
The innovative program was launched in January 2022 with the intention of closing the income gap for cocoa farming families and helping to reduce the risk of child labor. At the same time, it aims to promote regenerative agricultural practices, promote gender equality and, in particular, strengthen the role of women. It provides incentives for farmers to send their children to school, adopt good agricultural practices, engage in agroforestry activities and diversify their income.
Nestlé’s Income Accelerator Program has supported more than 10,000 families in Ivory Coast to date and will expand to Ghana this year to include a total of 30,000 families. The program aims to reach approximately 160,000 cocoa farming families in Nestlé’s global cocoa supply chain by 2030.
Traceability of cocoa beans
Nestlé has worked with various partners and suppliers to transform their global cocoa sourcing. The company aims to achieve full traceability and physical separation of the cocoa from the Income Accelerator Program. This means being able to track the entire journey of cocoa beans from origin to factory, while keeping them physically separate from other cocoa sources.
The cocoa mass from the Income Accelerator Program meets the highest traceability standards, ensuring “Mixed Identity Preserved” traceability. Nestlé intends to use segregated cocoa butter for all of its KITKAT chocolate in Europe by mid-2024. Expansion to additional regions is also planned planned for the next few years.
„KITKAT has always been an innovative brand, built around the legendary motto ‘Have a break, Have a Kit Kat‘ turns. Today we see this innovation in the ‘Breaks for Good’ initiative. This puts the focus on cocoa farmers in our Income Accelerator Program
“Commented Corinne Gabler, Head of Confectionery and Ice Cream at Nestlé. “We couldn’t think of a better brand than KITKAT to highlight our efforts to improve cocoa farming conditions.
“
The “Kit Kat Breaks for Good” will be available in stores from January 2024 in 27 European countries – including Austria – and from May 2024 in Great Britain.
“Cargill supports Nestlé’s long-term goals and progress in implementing the Income Accelerator Program. We are a partner committed to sustainability and rely on responsible solutions to source ingredients for Nestlé that help restore the environment, support families and increase income. Through our partnership, we are building a stronger and more resilient supply chain together,” said Michiel van der Bom, Product Line Director Cocoa & Chocolate Europe West Africa, Cargill.
“We are pleased to work with Nestlé on the path to sustainable cocoa sourcing,” said Thierry Touchais, Manager Strategic Accounts at Rainforest Alliance. “The application of the Mixed Identity Preserved model at this scale is encouraging. The model allows cocoa to be traced back to Rainforest Alliance certified farmers affiliated with the Income Accelerator Program. The approach shows the potential for positive change in the industry.”
About Nestlé
Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company with operations in 186 countries. Around 276,000 employees around the world work every day to improve quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. Nestlé offers a wide range of products and services for people and animals in all situations. This includes over 2,000 brands from global icons such as NESCAFÉ or NESPRESSO to innovations in the health science sector. Creating shared value is at the heart of Nestlé’s corporate spirit: because good food is the power to create a better life for everyone.
Nestlé’s headquarters are in Vevey, where the company was founded in Switzerland over 150 years ago. Nestlé in Austria, headquartered in Vienna, has around 800 employees at 21 locations and has existed since 1879. Most important brands: NESPRESSO, FELIX, NESCAFÉ, NESCAFÉ DOLCE GUSTO, MAGGI, PURINA, BEBA, KITKAT, THOMY, SMARTIES, GARDEN GOURMET, NESQUIK, PURE ENCAPSULATIONS.
Questions & Contact:
Nestlé Austria GmbH
Mag. Katharina Keimelmayr, MSc, BA
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel.: +43-1-546 71-537
presse.pr@at.nestle.com