CINCINNATI, OH – Kroger has announced plans to expand its Simple Truth® brand and offer more Fair Trade Certified™ products in partnership with Fair Trade USA. In 2018, Kroger will expand its collection of Simple Truth Fair Trade Certified products by introducing 10 new offerings.

“Kroger's partnership with Fair Trade USA supports our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste vision and allows us to Live Our Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit,” noted Gil Phipps, Vice President of Our Brands. “The Fair Trade model supports income sustainability, environmental stewardship, empowerment, and the well-being of every participating farming community. As customer interest in Fair Trade products grows, Kroger is proud to be leading the industry with our Simple Truth offerings and increasing our product selection every year.”

According to a company press release, the retailer will add a number of Fair Trade Certified products to its Simple Truth line—which currently spans multiple commodities, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, tea, sugar, and agave, and leads the private label grocery industry in Fair Trade offerings. The company currently carries nearly 300 Fair Trade Certified products representing 60 brands.

“Kroger's commitment to Fair Trade is a powerful example of responsible sourcing in the retail industry,” said Ken Redding, Chief Commercial Officer at Fair Trade USA. “The impact is felt across the many Fair Trade communities where they source and reflects Kroger customers' growing desire to shop their values.”

Since the inception of the Simple Truth brand in late 2012, Kroger has purchased Fair Trade Certified ingredients, and the company’s global supply partnerships have positively impacted the lives of farmers in countries like the Philippines, Colombia, and Dominican Republic. In 2016 alone, Kroger purchased 1.2 million pounds of certified ingredients.

Kroger's Fair Trade purchases have benefited many farmers and their families, the company added. At Philippines-based coconut farm Peter Paul, nearly 250 young people have received scholarships for continued education. And at coffee cooperative FIECH, farmers have used community development funds to diversify their crops, improve farming practices, and launch a micro-lending program to help natives start new businesses to support their families.

Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic lines can be found exclusively at The Kroger Co. Family of Stores.

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