Mzuzu coffee penetrates scottish market

Mzuzu Coffee, which is produced by Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union Limited, continues to make inroads on the global market.

Early this month, the cooperative’s officials exhibited the product at a two-week Scottish Fairtrade Forum.

According to Scotland’s news outlet, Third Force News, the cooperative’s acting chief executive officer Bernard Kaunda and quality and processing executive Christopher Gondwe represented local coffee growers to enhance the country’s links with Scotland.

The paper said the two were also engaged to raise awareness of Fairtrade Forum—a Scottish network organisation for Fairtrade campaigners and businesses—through events across Scotland and Perth in Australia.

Kaunda was quoted as having said: “We are here to bring the message that Fairtrade is about more than the price and cost of products.

“We want to tell Scotland about the values of Fairtrade and the positive impact it has on farmers and we are happy to further forge the links between Malawi and Scotland.”

Scottish Fairtrade Forum director Martin Rhodes said they will continue to develop Fairtrade links with the world.

“It is a huge privilege to welcome our visitors from Malawi at this Fairtrade Fortnight to celebrate and strengthen our Fairtrade links,” he said.

Fairtrade Fortnight takes place from February 26 to March 11. This year’s event was held under the theme Come On In.

In an interview, Kaunda said the trip was made possible by both the Scotland-Malawi Partnership and the Fairtrade Fortnight.

He said his institution and Malawi in general have benefitted from the trip through business deals.

Kaunda said they finalised a deal to start exporting finished products to Scotland.

“This is important to us because premiums that come with exporting products will benefit producers to have more income,” he said.