Cocktails and stars at the Observer Ethical Awards

Observer Ethical Awards 2010

Sophi and I went along to the Observer Ethical Awards last night at the V&A – not up for an award this time but there to help celebrate world-improving innovation and excellence.  The Observer’s Lucy Siegle – Queen of Green – shared the podium (dressed in Sika) with a sharply suited Colin Firth and presided over a cheerful and laid back evening. Amongst the winners was our own Board member Gordon Roddick – who deservedly won this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  Gordon summed up his life’s work as doing something about the things that “pissed him off” – that was the motivation behind Body Shop, helping set up Divine with his wife Anita – and his latest campaigning initiative 38 Degrees.  Other notable winners included two young lads – the Recyclists – who have been helping people in their local community in Fife recycle by delivering their waste to the local recycling centre – on trailers behind their bikes. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall was voted Campaigner of the Year, Caroline Lucas, the first Green Party representitive in the House of Commons, got the Ethical Politician Award, and Guy Watson from Riverford organic delivery service got his THIRD Observer Award (NB loook out for great review of the Riverford restaurant in Observer this Sunday)! 

Gordon Roddick - Observer Lifetime Achievement Award

Over a few cocktails (one of which had little pink petals floating in it which needed to be constantly removed from in between one’s teeth) it was great catching up with Livia Firth and everyone from Eco-Age, Marc Francis (one half of the Black Gold filmmaking team), Harriet Lamb and the Fairtrade Foundation team, and Rosie Budhani from the Foundation ethical fashion people. Vic Morgan, one of the guys behind ethicalsuperstore.com was there too, and Martin Wright, editor of Green Futures.  Spotted Jo Wood, Ken Livingstone, and John Sauven director of Greenpeace in the audience.

We’re still extremely proud of having won Observer Ethical Business of the Year (this year won by B&Q for demystifying ecological ideas for the consumer), and it’s good to see both smallscale local initiatives and big company efforts being acknowledged at the same event. 

We went home with the mother of all goodie bags (including a Divine bar of course).

Divine Summer Fun

Divine White Chocolate with real strawberries

We are getting into the summer mood here at Divine!

It’s our favourite time of year to enjoy Divine White Chocolate with Strawberries, reminds us of an afternoon spent on grassy banks enjoying strawberries and cream in the sun. Delightful!

We will also be attending a number of events over the summer including Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Festival, Greenbelt Festival with Christian Aid and we are involved with the Big Lunch this weekend. Divine and Ethical Superstore have put together a Fair Trade Hamper for all those Big Lunchers out there – a Jute picnic bag full of Fairtrade goodies including Divine chocs, Traidcraft brazil nut cookies, Fruit Passion orange juice, Equal Exchange cashew nuts, and Equality wine.

And finally heres a recipe to make any summer party a sensation. The Divinitini Cocktail recipe made with Grand Marnier, vodka and Divine Milk Chocolate, designed by chic London hotel The Sanderson.

Enjoy!

Countdown to Fairtrade Fortnight

Sunrise in Bayerebon, Ghana

Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 is round the corner! There are so many ways you can get involved to make this the best year yet!

• Send off for your free Divine Chocolate supporter kits from Ethical Superstore. They contain leaflets, postcards, posters and of course chocolate so you can set up an event to spread the Divine word! http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/divine-chocolate/divine-chocolate-supporter-promotion-pack/
• Check out our events calendar and attend an event and meet the farmers for yourself. Divine Chocolate will be in London, Exeter, St Austell, Wales and Ireland, see you there! http://www.divinechocolate.com/events/upcoming.aspx
• Visit the Fairtrade Foundation bus tour http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight_bus_tour.htm
• Make something Divine, like a cake and take it into work. For recipe ideas visit http://www.divinechocolate.com/joinin/recipes.aspx
• Look out for offers in your supermarkets over the next 2 weeks on Fairtrade goods, especially delicious Divine Chocolate!
• Stock the choc, if your local newsagent or store does not stock Divine Chocolate then please request for them to sell it. You will be directly benefitting thousands of Ghanaian farmers by doing so