Fairtrade growth remains strong

Fairtrade food

Despite the global economic downturn in 2009 making everyone tighten their belts, it seems it has also made people more aware of the strife of others in poorer countries. As a result, Fairtrade sales have reached GBP£800 million.

The global economic turndown has been felt worst in developing countries, where an estimated 50 to 90 million more people were thrown into extreme poverty in 2009, according to UN Millennium Development Goal figures. In the UK, just over seven in 10 people told YouGov that they cut back on their personal budgets in some way as a result of the recession, such as eating out less.

The UK public has remained loyal to Fairtrade, resulting in another increase in the value of Fairtrade sales, up on 2008 by 12 percent to an estimated retail value of over GBP£799 million, and 71 percent (who don't already buy everything they can Fairtrade) of people say they are willing to swap one or more products to Fairtrade in the next two weeks, according to the new YouGov poll commissioned by the Foundation, a press release for the Fairtrade website states.

"2009 was a tough year for everyone, but a desperate year for many poor communities and small farmers in developing countries," said Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive of the Fairtrade Foundation.

"For millions of growers and their families and communities, Fairtrade was able to make the difference that has helped them survive a difficult year and plan for the future. It is to the credit of the decent British and Irish public that they do care and, despite the recession, they are still voting with their wallets for fairness and want to change the indignities of an unjust trading system."

Major commitments

2009 saw a string of major commitments for Fairtrade. Mainstream moves to Fairtrade included Cadbury Dairy Milk, all Starbucks espresso-based coffee, Nestle's four-finger KitKat, and moves by supermarkets such as Sainsbury's rolling out their commitment to convert all their tea and coffee, Morrison's converting all their roast and ground coffee, Tesco converting Tesco Finest Tea and Tate & Lyle converting their retail sugar; while companies like Boots, Lush, Bubble & Balm, and Neal's Yard all introduced Fairtrade lines to coincide with Fairtrade standards for cosmetics.

2010 also looks to be another successful year for Fairtrade as Ben & Jerry's announced that they will be going 100 percent Fairtrade in the UK and throughout Europe by the end of 2011 and globally by end 2013 - which means that every ingredient they use, from sugar to nuts to cocoa, that can be Fairtrade certified, will be. And last month Green & Black's announced they will switch their entire range of chocolate bars and beverages to 100 percent Fairtrade by the end of 2011.

Also, all M&S tea, coffee, bagged sugar and conserves are Fairtrade, all own-label beverages at the Co-op are Fairtrade, all bananas sold in Sainsbury's and Waitrose are Fairtrade, all coffee at Pret A Manger, EAT and AMT Coffee is Fairtrade whilst pioneering companies such as Cafédirect, Divine Chocolate, Liberation, Traidcraft, Equal Exchange and Bishopston Trading Company apply Fairtrade principles throughout their business.

Fairtrade fortnight

The trading results come as 'Fairtrade Fortnight 2010' (22 February - 7 March 2010) begins. This year, it has the theme of 'The Big Swap' to rally people across the UK and Ireland to swap everyday shopping basket items such as tea, coffee, chocolate, cotton tee-shirts, pineapples, bananas, cakes, sugar and a host of other products for Fairtrade ones during the fortnight. Fairtrade Fortnight is the annual nationwide campaign to promote awareness of Fairtrade and encourage people to buy products which carry the 'Fairtrade Mark' in order to help farmers in developing countries.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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