FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Global Coffee Retailer Launches Verified Fair Trade Coffee Accountability Plan
Company will verify suppliers, publish quarterly progress updates, protect employee stability, and strengthen farmer payment oversight.
NEW YORK, United States – June 4, 2026 – Global Coffee Retailer today announced a Verified Fair Trade Coffee Accountability Plan after an internal review found that some coffee purchases did not follow the company’s stated commitment to direct fair trade sourcing. The company is taking immediate steps to verify suppliers, correct sourcing practices, protect employees, and rebuild trust with customers, farmers, suppliers, and investors.
The plan is based on a clear public promise: fair trade coffee must be traceable, verified, and honestly reported. Global Coffee Retailer will pause purchases from any supplier that cannot document fair trade practices, begin an independent review of its global coffee supply chain, and publish quarterly updates that explain what has been verified, what still needs correction, and what progress has been made.
“Customers, employees, and coffee-growing partners expected better from us,” said Elena Marquez, chief executive officer of Global Coffee Retailer. “A responsible company does not ask people to trust words alone. We are putting verification, reporting, and farmer payment protections in place so our fair trade coffee commitment can be checked and improved.”
As part of the plan, an independent third party will examine supplier records, purchasing contracts, and farmer payment documentation. Suppliers that cannot provide clear evidence of fair trade practices will remain paused until their records are verified. The company will also compare payment practices with public fair trade guidance from Fairtrade International, Fair Trade Certified, and the Global Coffee Platform so customers and stakeholders can see the standards guiding the review.
The company also stated that rumors about immediate or ongoing layoffs connected to this review are incorrect. Global Coffee Retailer will focus first on correcting sourcing practices, strengthening oversight, and giving employees clear information through internal updates, manager briefings, and a dedicated employee question channel.
“This cannot be only a public relations response,” said Daniel Reyes, vice president of responsible sourcing for Global Coffee Retailer. “Our responsibility is to create a process that farmers, customers, employees, and investors can understand. The goal is not to move past the issue quickly. The goal is to correct it in a way people can actually verify.”
Additional public resources guiding this review include Fairtrade International Living Income Reference Prices, Fair Trade Certified coffee resources, and the Global Coffee Platform Coffee Sustainability Reference Code. These resources will help customers, employees, and stakeholders understand the standards used to measure responsible sourcing progress.
Global Coffee Retailer will share review updates on its website, employee communication channels, and social platforms. Images used with these updates will show diverse coffee farmers, retail employees, and customers in natural work and community settings, supporting a global message of transparency, fair trade coffee, and responsible sourcing.
About Global Coffee Retailer
Global Coffee Retailer is a global coffee company serving customers through retail stores, packaged coffee, and digital ordering channels. The company is committed to responsible coffee sourcing, clear public communication, and long-term relationships with coffee-growing communities.
Contact:
Corporate Communications Office
Global Coffee Retailer
media@globalcoffeeretailer.com
+1 555 014 5660
123 Market Street
New York, NY 10001