Sales of Fairtrade goods in the UK increase by 19 %

On occasion of this year's Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Foundation has announced soaring sales in 2012, showing public support for and business interest in Fairtrade goes on expanding and is deepening. (Picture: Cocoa farmers in Ghana) 
 

Estimated retail sales of Fairtrade products in 2012 reached £1.57bn (€1.82bn), a 19% increase on sales of £1.32bn in 2011. Cocoa, sugar and bananas have all seen significant growth at respectively 21%, 35% and 15% over 2011. Wine, gold and herbs and spices have all grown. Areas that have remained steady include coffee, tea and cotton.

2012 saw several major initiatives in the chocolate category - Maltesers’ switch to Fairtrade, the introduction of Bubbly by Cadbury Dairy Milk, and the roll-out of the full range of Green & Black’s bars that have resulted in the impressive growth of 21% in Fairtrade cocoa and also contributed to strong growth in Fairtrade sugar sales. Growth in sugar sales was further boosted by Morrison’s converting all their own label range to Tate &Lyle Fairtrade sugar and Ben & Jerry’s completing the conversion of their full range to Fairtrade.

Bananas growth was mainly driven by the Co-operative switching all their bananas to Fairtrade. Meanwhile, enterprising Fairtrade companies like Divine Chocolate, Cafédirect, Traidcraft and Equal Exchange have brought out many attractive new products and Fairtrade got another boost during the London 2012 Games when Fairtrade wine, tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar and bananas were served at all Olympic venues.
 

The Fairtrade Foundation says 2013 is already off to a good start, with more businesses ‘going further for Fairtrade’ like Divine Chocolate launching their Bee Happy range, the Co-operative switching all their roses to Fairtrade, and Kit Kat 2-finger going Fairtrade, nearly trebling the company’s purchases of cocoa and sugar on Fairtrade terms. More information is available here.