Sara Lee Unveils 5-Year Sustainable Coffee Plan

UTRECHT, The NetherlandsSara Lee Corp. launched an ambitious 5-year initiative to boost its sustainable coffee commodity program by committing to more than triple the amount it purchases of UTZ CERTIFIED Good Inside® coffee in the next five years to at least 350 million kilos across all its markets and product segments.

Sara Lee estimates that its sustainability investments can deliver up to $100 million of income for coffee farmers, their associations and representatives. The company said the amount is more than it would have earned on the open market.

Sara Lees long-term goal is to use only certified coffee and tea in all products worldwide, and this new aggressive 5-year plan is a very important step in accelerating our progress," said Frank van Oers, CEO of Sara Lees international beverage and bakery businesses. By providing coffee growers visibility five years out and publicly committing to buy very large quantities of certified coffee we can contribute to improve sustainability in the mainstream coffee market worldwide."

By 2015 Sara Lee will have more than 20 percent of its entire annual coffee volume certified sustainable. Sara Lee is No. 3 worldwide in coffee volume behind Nestlé and Kraft Foods, and ahead of other leading firms such as The J.M. Smucker Company and Tchibo.

The company also is expanding the number of sustainable certification partners with which it works. Although the UTZ CERTIFIED Foundation will remain Sara Lees main partner for sustainable certification, the company will liaise occasionally with other programs such as certified organic or Rainforest Alliance.