Chocolate is one of the world’s favourite foods — and for good reason — but it doesn’t always have to be a sinful indulgence.
When it’s fair-trade, organic and comes in an environmentally friendly package, chocolate can be a guilt-free treat.
“It’s not fruit and vegetables, but it is about better chocolate ingredients,” said Trent Thibert of Natural Chocolate Works, a Metis-owned food company in British Columbia that helped produce six new CO-OP® GOLD PURE chocolate bars, including Canada’s first fair-trade and organic certified Dark Chocolate Coconut Cup and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup.
Chocolate that packs a crunch: CO-OP GOLD PURE puts a new spin on a familiar sensation with the addition of an ancient grain. Roasted Quinoa Dark Chocolate uses puffed quinoa — in place of the traditional puffed rice — to add some snap to every bite.
The six new CO-OP GOLD PURE chocolate bars are gluten free and made in Canada without any artificial colouring, flavouring or preservatives. The new bars offer an elevated, all-natural take on traditional confectionary chocolate.
- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
- Dark Chocolate Coconut Cup
- Coconut & Hazelnut Milk Chocolate
- Solid 72% Dark Chocolate
- Roasted Quinoa Dark Chocolate
- Salted Butterscotch Milk Chocolate
“We want chocolate that’s not only indulgent, but also sophisticated. You can have it both ways, like the savory and sweet Salted Butterscotch Milk Chocolate bar,” said Sav Bellissimo, Store Brands Manager for Co-op. “At the same time, these are fair-trade products you can feel good about.”
Co-op Food Stores are proud supporters of co-operative development around the world through the promotion of fair-trade initiatives that enhance the lives small family farms in developing countries, many of which are members of co-operatives themselves.
Source: Fairtrade Canada
Fair trade at work: Fair-trade standards include a minimum price that helps fund schools and health services, as well as equipment and loans to co-operative members. See successful examples of fair-trade practices at work in the Dominican Republic, Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Made the right way
Each CO-OP GOLD PURE chocolate bar features the stamp of approval from Fairtrade Canada guaranteeing ingredients, like cocoa, are sourced responsibly. That means fair compensation to farmers and ensures sustainable agricultural practices and ethical labour standards are followed.
In 2015, Federated Co-operatives Limited and Co-op Food Stores were named Fairtrade Retailer of the Year by Fairtrade Canada for their commitment to fair-trade practices and products. Dozens of these products are available in Co-op Food Stores across three categories — chocolate, coffee and ice cream.
Vanishing packaging
The chocolate is packaged in Canada using locally sourced materials, as well as a 100-percent-compostable wrapper from Europe, to reduce its environmental footprint.
“It’s a three-step environmentally friendly program: eat the chocolate, recycle the carton and place the wrapper in a compost,” said Thibert. “Basically, six to seven weeks later, it will be fully broken down. It won’t even be there.”
“Our fair-trade initiatives and sustainably sourced PURE products are about choices and confidence,” said Bellissimo. “With products like our new PURE chocolate bars, we’re allowing our customers to make informed purchases that make a difference.”
The six new CO-OP GOLD PURE chocolate bars are now available in all Co-op Food Stores.