Home furnishing retailer IKEA is switching its coffee supplier in line with other social and environmental policy, ensuring all coffee sold at IKEA is now UTZ certified and traceable all the way back to the plantations.

IKEA carried out extensive evaluation of existing certification schemes, such as Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance and Organic, all of which contribute to sustainable coffee growing. Coffee farming is the subject of social and environmental concerns to many consumers. The company opted for the UTZ Certified programme because it incorporates and encompasses the IKEA values and long term commitment to social and environmental actions.

UTZ Cerified is one of the largest coffee certification programmes in the world, providing independent assurance of responsible production and sourcing. UTZ creates opportunities for farmers to improve business practices and meet market expectations. In the Mayan language, UTZ means eGoodf.

The introduction of certified coffee into all IKEA stores contributes to a win-win situation from farmer to consumer by offering customers responsibly produced coffee at low prices, while improving social and environmental conditions at the coffee plantations. UTZ Certified farmers receive training and support to increase their productivity and cost-effectiveness so as to improve the quality of the coffee.

IKEA customers can trace each individual pack of six coffee varieties from the Swedish food market to its origin. The tracer tool at www.utzcertified.org/IKEA lets customers simply enter the coffee variety and the best before date from the pack to see exactly where the coffee came from.

Commenting on the introduction of certified coffee into IKEA store, Tony Bowsher IKEA Food Services Manager said

"Certifying all coffee sold and served at IKEA is a huge step for us. IKEA wants customers to know that the coffee they drink is produced in a responsible manner. It is important to IKEA that the UTZ Certified takes a holistic approach with its standards and looks into areas of social, working, environment, and economic conditions. I am also pleased that for the future IKEA will be able to participate in developing UTZ Certified standards for other crops such as cocoa and tea."

The introduction of certified coffee is an extension of the social and environmental actions IKEA has already taken.

-Ends-

Notes to Editor

œ IKEA does not plan to increase the price of coffee. We will increase the number of coffee products which will lead to higher sales volumes for both IKEA and its suppliers. Higher volumes enable us to keep prices at todayfs low levels.

œ IKEA sees UTZ Certified as a sustainable set-up with positive impact on all stake holders.

œ UTZ Certified coffee is available from all main origins (Asia, Africa, Central and South America) and comes from a broad range of coffee farms, including both large mainstream coffee producers and those that use small-scale and shade grown product-methods. UTZ Certified takes a broad approach to sustainability and wants to incorporate social and environmental responsibility in the entire coffee market.

œ In the future IKEA hopes to participate in the developing of UTZ Certified standards for other crops such as cocoa and tea.

For more information contact the IKEA UK Press Office on:

PRUK@MEMO.IKEA.COM 0208 233 2378 www.IKEA.co.uk/press