Sime Darby Plantation has issued a statement with regards to a news report by Reuters on the cancellation of palm oil purchase by Ferrero Italy, on which the planter claims the chocolate maker has never been its customer.
A few days back, Reuters published an article in which one of the largest confectionery in the world Ferrero would stop buying palm oil from SDP due to issues regarding labour mismanagement and sustainable crop matters. In the article, the foreign press also quoted General Mills and Hershey as customers of SDP and who have discontinued using palm oil from SDP.
The group says these are also not its customers but did confirm on Cargill is its customer, who has since stopped orders since February 2022. However, the bulk of the order has been repatriated to other customers.
Ferrero in an email response to Reuters said it had asked all its vendors and suppliers to stop supplying palm oil or kernels sourced directly or indirectly from SDP.
