Heineken honoured for its contribution to alleviating poverty
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
New York City, 22 September 2010 - Last night, during the Millennium Development
Goals (MDG) Summit hosted by the United Nations, Heineken received the 2010
World Business and Development (WBD) Award for its groundbreaking sustainable
local supply chain initiative in Sierra Leone. Heineken is one of only ten
organisations to receive the 2010 WBD award. According to the members of the
International Judging Panel, Heineken impressed by demonstrating a clear link
between vital business practices and the contribution of the project towards the
Millennium Development Goals.
Heineken's local sourcing project in Sierra Leone is part of the company's
Africa-wide strategy to procure at least 60% of its raw materials locally.
Moreover, the Sierra Leone case has stimulated local entrepreneurship, created
hundreds of new jobs for local population and increased smallholder farmers'
incomes significantly, thereby alleviating poverty.
"We are extremely proud to receive this award," stated Tom de Man, Regional
President Heineken Africa & Middle East. "Our project in Sierra Leone is one of
many efforts to empower the communities in which we operate. It is a testament
to the successful co-operation between public development institutions and
private sector stakeholders. "
Sierra Leone Sorghum Project
Since 1988, Heineken has been developing its sorghum brewing technology and
know-how. The award-winning project in Sierra Leone was established in 2005 with
the goal to develop a sustainable local supply chain for Sierra Leone Breweries
Ltd (SLBL). SLBL trained farmers in good agricultural practices, organised
bulking and transport and tested new sorghum varieties for better processing
quality and yield. The sustainable local supply chain was established with
co-funding of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), an international
institution that specialises in commodity development.
Benefits to all
The project has helped local farmers compete against imported grains. It has
raised smallholder farmers' incomes derived from sorghum, which has directly
contributed to the alleviation of poverty for this critical group of farmers.
Locally produced sorghum shortens the supply chain and diversification of raw
material sourcing, both beneficial to local farmers and SLBL. Reducing grain
imports leads to savings of scarce foreign currency for Sierra Leone. More
importantly however, hundreds of local smallholder farmers in Sierra Leone now
have a cash income. This all led to the creation of solid relationships and
trust between all stakeholders in the new supply chain.
Common Fund for Commodities
The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) is an intergovernmental Institution
established within the framework of the United Nations that focuses on financing
commodity development activities. Over the past 20 years, the Fund has leveraged
its resources and has been able to provide assistance of over 500 million USD,
almost double of its own contribution, to meet the critical development needs of
its 106 member countries. Target beneficiaries of CFC financed projects are
smallholder farmers, as well as small and medium sized enterprises involved in
commodity production, processing and trade in developing and least developed
countries. Due to its presence in The Netherlands, the Common Fund enjoys long
standing relationships with a large number of Dutch private and public entities
that engage in commodity production, trade and development.
- END -
About Brewing a Better Future
Heineken's long-term ambition is to become the greenest international brewer in
the world. The company has formulated this in its new sustainability programme
'Brewing a Better Future'. The company aspires to reach its long-term goal by
continuously improving the environmental impact of its brands and business, by
empowering its people and the communities in which it operates and by positively
impacting the role of beer in society. Heineken is a member of the UN Global
Compact and subscribes to the UN Water Mandate and actively promotes responsible
consumption via brand communication and responsibility activities in partnership
with other beverage companies. For more information about Heineken's
sustainability programme Brewing a Better Future go
towww.heinekeninternational.com.
About the WBDA
Introduced by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in 2000, and now
jointly organized with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the
International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF), the World Business Awards have
become increasingly successful in each of the five years the awards have been
designated. The WBDA raise awareness, promote best practices, and encourage
further action. Concrete examples are shared with governments and businesses on
the advantages of joining forces for poverty alleviation. The WBDA encourage
action at the country level and create a network of companies and entrepreneurs.
Press enquiries Heineken
Hester Swart Anoeska van Leeuwen
Tel: +31 20 5239 355 Tel: +31 20 5239 355
Hester.swart(at)heineken.com Anoeska.vanleeuwen(at)heineken.com
Editorial information:
Heineken is one of the world's great brewers and is committed to growth and
remaining independent. The brand that bears the founder's family name - Heineken
- is available in almost every country on the globe and is the world's most
valuable international premium beer brand. The Company's aim is to be a leading
brewer in each of the markets in which it operates and to have the world's most
valuable brand portfolio. The Company operates 140 breweries in more than 70
countries and sold 165.7 million hectolitres of beer on a 2009 pro-forma basis.
Heineken is Europe's largest brewer and the world's third largest by volume.
Heineken is committed to the responsible marketing and consumption of its more
than 200 international premium, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders.
These include Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Dos Equis, Foster's, Kingfisher,
Newcastle Brown Ale, Ochota, Primus, Sagres, Sol Star, Strongbow, Tecate, Tiger
and Zywiec. On a 2009 pro-forma basis, including FEMSA's beer businesses,
revenue totalled ?16.9 billion and EBIT (beia) was ?2.3 billion. The average
number of people employed is more than 75,000. Heineken N.V. and Heineken
Holding N.V. shares are listed on the Amsterdam stock exchange. Prices for the
ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO
NA and on the Reuter Equities 2000 Service under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. Most
recent information is available on Heineken's home
page:http://www.heinekeninternational.com.
[HUG#1445928]
Heineken image - Sierra Leone Sorghum_jpeg:
http://hugin.info/136188/R/1445928/389041.JPG
Heineken International press release.pdf:
http://hugin.info/136188/R/1445928/389040.pdf
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Source: Heineken International via Thomson Reuters ONE
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 22.09.2010 - 08:00 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 42904
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