Fatima, Logisitics Coordinator, made global connections:
Meeting suppliers in the UK and Rotterdam was a highlight for me. Putting faces to names made those professional relationships even better. The daily operations fascinated me — we go through so many nuts!
And, I have to say, the new Piri Piri Peanuts that were launched as part of the Street Food range are a game-changer! I love tossing them in my salad for that extra spice and crunch.
Bernadette, Communications Manager, started 2023 celebrating Keralan cashew farmers:
Kicking off 2023 at SeedFest in Kerala was incredible (main image). Meeting producer families who were so warm and welcoming and seeing, firsthand, their small cashew farms bursting with life made me appreciate our value chain and where these delicious ingredients come from more than ever.
Holly, Interim Technical Manager, loved seeing nuts transform to butter:
Travelling to the Netherlands with Deborah and Fatima was unforgettable. We visited peanut butter manufacturers and aced our BRC audit, building on our 2022 success.
Witnessing Fairtrade nuts being turned into mixed nut butter was a moment to remember.
Brian, Liberations’ bookkeeper, had some technical triumphs:
Transferring our business management system to Unleashed and Xero was a major achievement this year and a considerable team effort. This transition has made our systems more nimble and integrated and further solidifies our commitment to fair trade practices as it has already started to yield substantial advantages for our suppliers, customers and the communities we operate in.
Adeana, HR & Business Support Manager, made a smooth comeback: Returning from maternity leave was always going to be a challenge but it was great to be back with the team and see how the new internal system changes have made our super team even more efficient. It certainly made the comeback easier.
Leon, Sales and Marketing Manager, was thrown in at the deep end:
Joining the team this year, having moved from the hairdressing industry, has been quite a shift. Going straight into events like Positive Spirits in London (before I had even started!), The Sustainability Show in Manchester, and the Wabel Grocery Summit in Budapest was a great way to learn about this new industry and begin the exciting new challenge ahead of me!
Deborah, Supply Chain Manager, made some sustainable discoveries:
A couple of standout moments for me were joining Dan and Leon at The Sustainability Show in Manchester, getting to mingle with passionate customers. It was also great to visit the pop-up Endangered Aisle in Shoreditch during Fairtrade Fortnight. Seeing Liberation snacks alongside other Fairtrade ingredients and hearing directly from producers on the struggles faced due to the climate crisis was definitely a powerful moment.
Dan, Managing Director, had a whole host of happy moments:
2023 has had several wins. I have enjoyed taking a more active role in sales and marketing, including winning Oxfam business for the Liberation brand. I have loved speaking to people about the business and how we connect consumers with small holder farmer organisations across the world; it was a privilege to be asked by Transform Trade and Shared Interest to share my thoughts on Liberation as part of a blog post interview and a “virtual coffee” meet the team session.
My dedicated team has performed brilliantly throughout 2023 and have taken on challenges with gusto to help the business become more efficient. I am particularly proud of the work completed on the Impact Report, witnessing the way the team pulled resources to create a professional and insightful piece of work. Well done, team for a good years’ work!
2023 was an adventurous year... here's to cracking more challenges, more adventures and more Fairtrade nuts in 2024!✨
