How We Source the Milk in Our Chocolate – With Quality and Responsibility in Mind
How We Source the Milk in Our Chocolate – With Quality and Responsibility in Mind
At Hames Chocolates we're proud of what goes into every chocolate bar we make, from the Rainforest Alliance certified cocoa beans to the milk that gives our milk chocolate its smooth, creamy texture.
We often get asked about where our milk comes from, and while many people are familiar with our commitment to responsibly sourced cocoa, we’re just as thoughtful when it comes to dairy.
The short answer? Our milk is sourced from a select group of trusted partners around the world.
Beyond Borders – Sourcing The Best
While we’ve explored using only British milk, the UK simply doesn’t produce enough milk to meet national demand. As a result, the UK imports more dairy products than it exports, making it a net importer. But instead of seeing this as a limitation, we see it as an opportunity to work with some of the best dairy producers across several countries.
The majority of the milk we use comes from dairy farms in the UK and EU, where strong animal welfare and food safety standards are in place. We also source high quality milk from Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the US. This international approach means we’re not only able to meet demand we’re also able to maintain consistent quality and flavour in every batch of chocolate we make.
Consistent Quality, Shared Values
What unites our global dairy suppliers is a shared commitment to quality and responsible farming. Every supplier we work with, whether inside or outside the EU, adheres to a clear set of sustainable sourcing principles, including a strong focus on animal welfare.
Our policy reflects the internationally recognised “five freedoms” of animal welfare, ensuring dairy animals are well cared for. That means they are free from hunger, thirst, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, fear and distress. This commitment isn’t just good for animals, it’s good for the quality of the milk, too.
Cocoa And Dairy – Different Needs, Same Standards
We proudly support a range of cocoa schemes such as Rainforest Alliance and Cocoa Horizons to ensure that our cocoa is sourced from ethical and sustainable suppliers. We pay a premium for our cocoa. This premium is designed to support farmers in cocoa growing regions to produce cocoa without resorting to human rights violations such as slavery and child labour. It also aims to support farmers to implement their sustainability standards.
Milk doesn’t carry the same premiums or certification logos, but that’s primarily because the countries we source from have existing human rights laws in place to protect people.
That said, we hold our dairy sourcing to high expectations, just as we do for every ingredient in our chocolate. We work only with suppliers who share our values and can meet our standards for both quality and responsibility.
A Global Effort For Great Chocolate
We believe great chocolate comes from great partnerships. By working with a carefully selected group of dairy producers around the world, we ensure that our milk chocolate is not only smooth and delicious, but also made with integrity.
So, while some of our milk may come from beyond Britain’s borders, it’s still part of a wider commitment to doing the right thing, for our customers, our farmers, our animals, and the planet.
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