Ubuntu Cola

The concept of Ubuntu is one of community and interdependence. Ubuntu means "I am what I am because of who we all are".

Ubuntu Cola was launched in September 2007. The inspiration behind The Ubuntu Trading Company was the desire to work with African sugar farmers to lessen their dependency upon the price of sugar in world commodity markets.

Ubuntu Cola is made with Fairtrade sugar from Malawi and Zambia. We believe that Fairtrade is a great way of getting more money directly back to developing world producers. At the moment, we primarily work with the Kasinthula Cooperative in Malawi, which is a recently formed farming cooperative. We opted to work with them as they were relatively new to Fairtrade and are one of only 3 current Fairtrade sugar farming cooperatives in Africa.

Fairtrade offers growers both security and the ability to plan for the longer term. As well as paying a Fairtrade price for our sugar, the Ubuntu Trading Company will send 15% of the company's pre-tax prof its to the Ubuntu Africa programme, to run development projects for the sugar producers and their communities in Africa. These local projects give farmers the know-how to grow and sustain their business and diversify their sources of income. In Kasinthula for example, on top of sugar cane, farmers are growing maize in sufficient quantity to feed their family and have a small surplus to sell locally - thus benefiting the community with more food supplies. The Fairtrade cer tified farmers benefit from an income that, although small, is six times the national average. This enables them to live in brick houses and educate their children. Through the additional Fairtrade premium, they benefit from such amenities as electricity, clean water from new wells and essential medicines.

Sales of Fairtrade products in the U.K are growing at an impressive 72% year on year (by sales value) which suggests that the British public really do believe in the mark and what it is achieving. Initial feedback on Ubuntu Cola has been overwhelmingly positive and the brand is developing a strong base of loyal followers.

We have a range of free point of sale available ( which includes posters,counter cards, Z cards, and fridge stickers) to help communicate the brand to customers and encourage purchase. To find out more about what we are doing, visit www.ubuntu-trading.com