Mars Drinks is Founding Partner of Coffee Quality Institute® for Gender Equity

WEST CHESTER, Penn., March 24, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Earlier this year, Mars Drinks announced its Partnership for Gender Equality with the Coffee Quality Institute® (CQI). Along with other founding partners, including ACDI/VOCA, Falcon Coffees and AMFOTEK®, Mars Drinks has agreed to contribute financially to the research stage of the initiative.

The Partnership for Gender Equity is a collaborative research initiative spearheaded by CQI to better understand the effects of gender inequality in the coffee sector and develop industry best practices that support gender integration in the coffee supply chain.

Through this initiative, CQI is conducting an extensive literature review and participatory workshops in four countries, kicking off in Cauca, Colombia and Nicaragua. This collective effort will result in sound recommendations for pilot projects, investments, and partnerships to help ensure sustainable gender integration in the coffee sector.

Kimberly Easson, CQI vice president of strategic partnerships and gender program adviser explains that: “to address growing supply risks linked to climate change, plant disease, and out-migration from farming communities, among others, it is critical that the industry be able to leverage the full capabilities of both men and women in the supply chain, especially in producing communities. Equally important is participation from the industry. I am pleased that our project will benefit from the expertise and perspectives of these organizations.”

“At Mars Drinks we are excited to partner with CQI to research how gender equity can build stronger coffee communities and more resilient supply chains,” says Samantha Veide, global director of corporate sustainable solutions for Mars Drinks. “We believe that there is a strong business and community development case for empowering women coffee farmers.”

ABOUT MARS DRINKS

Mars Drinks creates great tasting moments at work by being at the center of workplace engagement, collaboration, productivity and well-being. Throughout North America, Europe and Asia, Mars Drinks supports businesses who want to provide great working environments for their people. Part of Mars, Incorporated Mars Drinks focuses its energy and resources on the workplace, with the belief that people are the most important asset to any business. In 1973 Mars Drinks introduced KLIX® the first-ever fully automatic in-cup drinks vending machine that serves large manufacturing channels across Europe. In 1984 Mars Drinks pioneered the single serve hot drinks category, introducing FLAVIA®, the first system for making hot drinks using fresh ground coffee and leaf teas sealed in individual servings. Through its ALTERRA® Coffee Roasters coffees, THE BRIGHT TEA CO.® teas, and DOVE® Hot Chocolate, Mars Drinks creates more than 1 billion great tasting moments at work! Find Mars Drinks online at www.marsdrinks.com

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned business with more than a century of history and some of the best-loved brands in the world including M&M’S®, PEDIGREE®, DOUBLEMINT® and UNCLE BEN’S®. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars has more than $33 billion in sales from six diverse business segments: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. More than 75,000 Associates across 73 countries are united by the company’s Five Principles: Quality, Efficiency, Responsibility, Mutuality and Freedom and strive every day to create relationships with stakeholders that deliver growth we are proud of as a company.

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