FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global Brew Wants to Keep Their Coffee
Beans “Clean”: Company Cleans Up Their Act and Promises Improved Business
Practices
Quote: “We apologize for the lapse in business oversight and
attention to detail that led to the accidental procurement of unethically
farmed coffee beans. A department with our company made a brief oversight and
has corrected the mistake. Going
forward, the company will start a social media campaign with a #StandWithUs
hashtag that motivates customers to support the brand as well as the farmers who
were wronged” explained Ashley Harrigan, longtime social media consultant for
World Brew.
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 16 –
·
#GlobalBrew
broke silence after investigations into claims its got coffee through “big
chain” suppliers rather than local farmers boasted on its labels.
·
Claims
began on Dec. 5, when farmers in southern #Brazil contacted lawyers over
potentially violations to the agreement signed with #GlobalBrew to be the
exclusive suppliers of the company’s coffee beans. The contract led the way for millions of
dollars to flow into the region, resulting in major economic development.
·
Protesters
in Brazil gathered at the Global Brew offices when the story was leaked to the
media and chanted #Somosnóséimportante” or do we matter? The question became a trending hashtag by the
following day.
·
Investigations
began on Dec. 7 and found that the
Brazil Sales department was the responsible party. Global Brew vowed to strengthen its
commitment to change and addressed its employees, who have awaited news about
their futures amidst rumors of layoffs and the resignation of John Garrett, the
VP in charge of the Sales Department at the time of the incident.
·
“Global
Brew will restore the public’s faith in the brand as a ethically responsible
chain”, Harrigan explained. “But we think
of our employees as a community rather than a company and do not take layoffs
lightly.
·
The
company will take the appropriate time to identify the internal departments
responsible for the purchase of the unethically farmed/obtained coffee and
assure the rest of the company that unrelated departments will not be affected.
·
“We
apologize for the lapse in business oversight and attention to detail that led
to the accidental procurement of unethically farmed coffee beans. A department
with our company made a brief oversight and has corrected the mistake. Going forward, the company will start a
social media campaign with a #StandWithUs hashtag that motivates customers to
support the brand as well as the farmers who were wronged” explained Ashley
Harrigan, longtime social media consultant for Global Brew.
·
“We
took the time to investigate every allegation to be sure we live up to the
brand we’ve promised our customers and the farmers.”
·
The
company sees the controversy as an opportunity to renew conversations with the
public about its global impact.
·
Starting
Dec. 10, the company will generate a television campaign and blog accessible
through www.globalbrew.com
that details the company’s supply chain and business practices as well as
emphasizes the positive outreach campaigns the company currently has.
·
#GlobalBrew
has a series of giveaways in the works in the future to reward customer
loyalty. #StandWithUs
·
Going
forward, the company will incentivize employees to go to a compliance
department with reports of unethical practices within the organization via an
anonymous email mailbox.
·
We r
committed 2 ppl most affected. #GlobalBrew will renew & strengthen ties
inside & outside GB. The world is
GB’s community #StandWithUs
· One of
the biggest mistakes an org can make is not showing a strong commitment to the
ppl most affected by its actions. Everyone matters. #StandWithUs
Contact:
Ashley Harrigan
5400 North
Street,
Washington, D.C.
20016
Phone:
202.457.7000
Founded in 1986, Global Brew is the largest fair trade coffee company in the world. The company is focused on providing quality coffee to the world. What distinguishes the company from other coffee retailers is the commitment to fair trade and connecting the world as one community. As a global coffee retailer, there is a responsibility to share good business practices and accept responsibility for the communities that our business affects. The company has won several awards including the Great Taste Award (2004 - Present) and the Golden Cup Award (2014 and 2015).
For more
information about Global Brew’s community outreach visit:
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