Nestle responds to Oxfam's Behind the Brands

In response to Nestle's public letter to Oxfam committing to explore ways to improve their approach to women in their supply chain, Oxfam's Behind the Brands campaign manager Alison Woodhead said:

“We welcome Nestle’s stated intention to improve their impacts on women in their supply chains. They are the first of the 3 big chocolate companies targeted by Behind the Brands to do this publicly. Given their immense influence on the lives of women farmers, it is a promising signal that the company has committed to considering ways to address gaps in their current policies and to producing a detailed plan in the next few weeks. We look forward to seeing whether the specific steps Nestle intends to take go far enough to ensure women in their supply chains have the rights and opportunities they deserve.

Oxfam will continue to press Nestle, Mars and Mondelez to make clear public commitments to:

• (a) assess and disclose how women are faring in their cocoa supply chain
• (b) formulate a plan of action to address the issues raised by their assessment, and
• (c) announce steps to use their influence with other powerful actors to ensure women in their supply chains have a fair shot.”

Today (8 March 2013) Oxfam campaigners will hold public actions at the headquarters of Mars, Mondelez and Nestle in the US tomorrow in honor of International Women’s Day.  See Oxfam’s petition.