The first Fairtrade-branded Kit Kats will appear in the UK and Ireland in January. Nestle's decision to make the brand Fairtrade follows its October announcement of a 'Cocoa Plan' to plough £65m into farming communities over the next 10 years.
The bulk of this work will occur in the Ivory Coast, where Nestle plans agricultural training, with a £35m budget on sustainable sourcing and improving social conditions.
David Rennie, managing director of Nestle Confectionery, said: "UK consumers are increasingly interested in how we source and manufacture their favourite products and certifying our largest brand is one of the ways in which we are committing to improving the lives of as many cocoa farming families as possible. Over 6,000 Ivorian farmers will benefit immediately as a result of today's announcement."
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: "The Fairtrade Foundation congratulates Kit Kat on this breakthrough for cocoa farmers. Mainstream brands such as Kit Kat bring the critical mass that is needed to tip the balance of trade in favour of disadvantaged cocoa farmers."