Leicester Advocating Fair Trade (LaFT), in collaboration with Divine Chocolate, is delighted to announce a special programme of events on 24th and 25th February to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. Two cocoa farmers are travelling over from Ghana and visiting the people of Leicester in honour of the occasion. The farmers belong to a co-operative called Kuapa Kokoo in Ghana which consists of 45,000 cocoa farmers and which supplies cocoa to the leading Fairtrade chocolate company, Divine Chocolate. The two farmers are visiting Leicester to talk to a range of audiences about how fairer trading is helping to change lives in Ghana. They will also be explaining how the farmers co-operative actually owns 45% of Divine itself and how this pioneering business model means an even better deal for farmers.

The dynamic Leicester Advocating Fair Trade group has organised events across the city to appeal to everyone with plenty of Divine chocolate to go around. For enquires on all these events please contact Sarah Sheperd / 07888 717270.

Wednesday 24th February Oadby students welcome the farmers Time: 9.00-11.45am At 9.00am Alistair Menzies of Divine Chocolate Ltd and the two Ghanaian farmers will address an audience of 10-14 year old pupils at Gartree High School in Oadby. Pupils from Brockshill Primary School will also be joining the assembly. After farmer presentations and a Q&A session, Chris Swan from the Oadby Fairtrade Town Group will explain some of the groups work. Pupils will also talk about the work they have been doing in class on fair trade issues. At 9.40am the farmers will depart for Brockshill where a Fairtrade Workshop is being held in honour of Fairtrade Fortnight. At 10.50am the farmers meet students at Beachamp College who are holding a Fairtrade Workshop.

Wednesday 24th February Oakham Co-op meets the farmers The Co-op store in Oakham is hosting a fantastic event for the farmers to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight. All the Co-ops own-brand chocolate is grown by Kuapa Kokoo farmers like Comfort and Kojo. A lunch will be provided for the farmers at the store at 12.30pm. Following a tour of the shop, at 2.00pm the farmers will present to the gathered audience, comprising members of the Rutland Fairtrade Steering Group, Student Force, and pupils from Langham School. Representatives from Rutland Fairtrade Steering Group, Student Force and Langham School will also give presentations. There will be opportunities for Q&As. Following the presentations, tastings of delicious Divine chocolate and other Fairtrade products will be on offer.

Wednesday 24th February De Monfort University hosts the farmers Venue: De Monfort University University Campus Centre, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH Time: 5.30-6.30pm The two farmers will present to the students about the benefits of Fairtrade and of owning their own chocolate company.

Thursday 25th February Whitehall Primary School and Abbey Primary School Venue: Whitehall Primary School, Whitehall Road, LE5 and Abbey Primary School, Ellis Avenue, LE4 Time: 8.30am Two primary schools will be hosting the farmers for their assemblies. One farmer will go to each school, demonstrating what life is like as a cocoa farmer belonging to a Fairtrade co-operative. Pupils will watch videos on life on the farm and will be able to ask the farmers questions.

Thursday 25th February Business Lunch Venue: Courtyard Room, Leicester Creative Business Depot, 31 Rutland Street, LE1 Time: 12.00-1.30pm An invited audience of city councillors, business & community leaders and interested groups from across the city. An opportunity to hear first hand how fair trading and owning a chocolate company has impacted on the lives of cocoa growers in Ghana. The two farmers belong to a co-operative of 45,000 members which collectively owns 45% of Divine Chocolate Ltd. Company ownership gives farmers like Comfort Kumeah a stronger voice in the international cocoa industry as well as shares of Divines profits. Thats good business!

Thursday 25th February Ghana Night at Loughborough University Venue: The Dog House, 69 Nottingham Road, Loughborough LE11 1ES Time: 7.30pm 9.00pm Charnwood Action For Fairtrade (CAFF) is hosting a Ghana evening with stalls and live music played by Ghanaian students from Loughborough University. Attendees will learn of the impact of Fairtrade and owning a chocolate company first hand.

Saturday 27th February St Martins Square celebrates Fairtrade Fortnight Venue: St Martins Square, Leicester city centre Time: 11.00am 2.00pm Retailers in St Martins Square are swapping the tea and coffee they normally drink for Fairtrade brands during Fairtrade Fortnight. Visitors are invited to St Martins in Leicester city centre between 11am and 2pm and find out about swapping to Fairtrade. There will be free samples of Divine chocolates, Fairtrade tea and coffee. Find out about other Fairtrade items by visiting Just, Leicesters Fairtrade shop at 36 Silver Street. Local band Sambando will bring the samba rhythms of Brazilian-style salsa so come and join in the Fairtrade celebration!

For enquires on all these events please contact Sarah Sheperd on sarahsheph@btinternet.com.

Divine Chocolate is the leading Fairtrade chocolate brand, and the only Fairtrade chocolate company co-owned by cocoa farmers. Every year the company tours UK and Ireland to support and celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with Fairtrade groups, local government officials, schools, churches, retailers and the chocolate loving public. Joining them every year are two farmer representatives of the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative giving people the opportunity to hear more about farmers lives firsthand, and the farmers an insight into our love of chocolate, and how many people here want to make trade fair.

As well as speaking and attending events during Fairtrade Fortnight, there will be plenty of opportunities to savour Divine the heavenly chocolate with a heart, made using only the very finest cocoa beans grown by farmers like Comfort Kumeah. Farmers who belong to Kuapa Kokoo take their slogan Pa pa paa (which means Best of the best) very seriously, and they will be very pleased and proud to be telling people in the UK the Divine story, as well as sharing out their very special chocolate.

Please contact Rosanna Mayhew on 0207 378 6550 or Rosanna@divinechocolate.com for images and more information.

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Editors notes

Divine has won critical acclaim which includes: o Charles Campion, Food Critic for the The Independent says: for a really good balance between price and performance look out for Divines Fairtrade 70% dark chocolate very fruity, with a good texture and a long finish. o Sara Jayne-Stanes, chocolate expert and founder member of the Academy of Chocolate says of Divines 70% bar, a mouthful of intense, very smooth, delectable chocolate Divine is in a league of its own.

Divine Chocolate Ltd is the only Fairtrade chocolate company that is also co-owned by cocoa farmers. Kuapa Kokoo, a co-operative of 45,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana, benefit not only from the Fairtrade premium on the sale of their beans, but also receive a 45% share of Divines distributable profits giving the farmers more economic stability, as well as the increased influence in the cocoa industry company-ownership brings

Keep up to date with Divine online: Everything you need to know about Divine: www.divinechocolate.com For Divine gifts: www.divinechocolateshop.com Follow the Divine blog: http://divinedelights.wordpress.com Follow Divine on Twitter: www.twitter.com/divinechocolate

For sales and stockist enquiries contact alistair@divinechocolate.com or find more details on www.divinechocolate.com

All Divine products carry the Fairtrade Mark. This is an independent guarantee certified by the Fairtrade Foundation that the ingredients are sourced under internationally agreed fair trade terms and conditions. These include a guaranteed, secure minimum price, an extra social premium payment for the farmers to invest in their own community programmes, long term trading contracts, decent health and safety conditions all aimed at empowering farmers to make their own improvements to living standards and prospects for the future

Divine Chocolate has won a number of prestigious awards. These include Good Housekeepings Favourite Fairtrade Product 2008; Best Food Brand in the SHE magazine Ethical Awards 2007; and Best Buy in Ethical Consumer magazine 2009. Divine Chocolate Ltd was awarded Best Social Enterprise 2007 at the Enterprising Solutions awards run by the Office of the Third Sector and The Observer Best Ethical Business 2008. Divine has been voted a Cool Brand 2009-10.

The UK chocolate market alone is worth approximately £3.5 billion a year: if Fairtrade products can capture even a small proportion of that market, producers in developing countries gain real benefits.