Fazer Day included discussions on peace and the importance of shared meals
Fazer celebrated its 127th birthday on Monday. The anniversary was spent by reminding Finns of the importance of shared meals and by engaging various actors in a discussion on how food can help resolve global challenges. The day’s themes featured the relationship between food and peace, the roles that different parties play in building sustainable societies, and strengthening the principles of community spirit in everyday life.
Monday 17 September marked the 127th year since the young and brave Karl Fazer established his first café on Kluuvikatu, Helsinki. Over the years, the company has grown into a modern and responsible food company with operations in eight countries and exports to more than 40 countries.
The company held two events to celebrate its birthday. On Monday morning, around one hundred Fazer employees took to the streets at the centre of Helsinki to surprise commuters and remind them of a simple way of building peace – sharing meals. In the afternoon, a group of people representing the private, public and non-profit sectors gathered together in the Fazer Experience Visitor Centre to discuss food’s role in the peaceful development of societies.
“Food is one of the world’s largest single industries. It’s estimated to account for as much as 20 per cent of global GDP and it has a significant impact on the social and economic development of communities and societies,” says Christoph Vitzthum, President & CEO of Fazer Group.
The panelists in the discussions included Lenita Toivakka, MP, Ann Selin, President of Service Union United PAM, Hussein Al-Taee, Advisor at the conflict resolution organisation Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), and Outi Mikkonen, Director of Corporate Collaboration at UNICEF Finland. The discussion was themed around the role of various actors in building peaceful and sustainable societies, the relationship between food and peace, and strengthening the principles of community spirit and peaceful development in everyday life.
Hussein Al-Taee brought up the connections between crises, climate change and food security. In West Africa, for instance, poor crops attributable to climate change explain part of the conflicts afflicting the region. Fazer buys 75 per cent of the cocoa it uses from West Africa, and the development of farmers’ livelihood is at the core of the company’s cocoa sourcing. Fazer has achieved significant results, particularly with regard to the growth of crops, through its farmer programmes in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire.
“It always pays off to resolve conflicts before allowing them to escalate into violence. Climate change and the accompanying decline in food security are significant contributors to conflict. Ambitious measures to curb climate change do play an important role in conflict prevention,” says Hussein Al-Taee.
Peace is also built in everyday life
Food and its availability are vital not only to the peace and well-being of individuals but communities and societies as well. Peace building begins from home and from everyday moments. Getting together around shared meals is important for the development of interaction and trust.
Nearly every culture places symbolic significance on sharing meals, and food can indeed offer a common language and shared experience when there is not yet much else in common between people. Eating together contributes to the good everyday life of us all.
“Daily meals with friends, acquaintances and your working community strengthen the sense of togetherness and of being heard. Fazer’s restaurants and cafés serve more than 30 million meals a year, offering people an opportunity to meet different food cultures, customs and communities,” says Christoph Vitzthum. “Eating together as a family offers precious opportunities to talk and spend time together, which is so important in people’s hectic lives,” he goes on to say.
Further information:
Increasing cocoa crops with a training programme
https://www.fazergroup.com/responsibility/corporate-responsibility-programme/fair-value-chain/responsible-sourcing/forbettercocoa/Cooperation/
Liisa Eerola, Communications Director, Partnership Program,tel. +358 44 710 8860
E-mail address: forename.surename@fazer.com
Fazer’s media phone line is open Mon–Fri from 8 am to 4 pm, tel. +358 40 668 2998, media@fazer.com
Fazer Group
Fazer is an International family-owned company offering quality bakery, confectionery, biscuit and grain products, plant-based meals, non-dairy products, on-the-go food & drinks as well as food and café services. Fazer’s mission is Food with a Purpose. The Group operates in eight countries and exports to around 40 countries. Fazer’s success, ever since its establishment in 1891, has been based on the best product and service quality, beloved brands, the passion of its skilful people and the Group’s responsible ways of working. In 2017, Fazer Group had net sales of 1.6 billion euros and nearly 15,000 employees. Fazer’s operations comply with ethical principles that are based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact.
Makes the world taste good
