UK: Fairtrade sales hold steady

Despite deflation in the grocery sector, early estimates from the Fairtrade Foundation based on the first three-quarters of the year suggest that Fairtrade sales have held steady in 2014. During the first nine months of the year there was sales growth in a number of product categories, including Fairtrade flowers, for which sales volumes grew by 29% compared with the same period in 2013. Sales volumes for coffee, bananas and cocoa also increased, while sales volumes for other popular product categories such as tea and sugar were slightly down year-on-year. (Picture: Fairtrade Cooperative Coprocael)

For most commodities, Fairtrade producers earn at least the Fairtrade minimum price for their produce, or the market price if higher, and they also earn a Fairtrade premium, which is based on sales volumes. This means that even if retail prices fall, Fairtrade producers are protected from the immediate impact of price deflation as long as the volumes sold remain steady. (Picture below: Fairtrade coffee farmers)
 

To make an even greater difference to the lives of farmers and workers, Fairtrade is introducing a number of new business initiatives in 2015, which aim to increase the volumes that producers can sell on Fairtrade terms. Revised standards for Fairtrade gold will be launched in January, a new services team has been created to develop new business initiatives, and Fairtrade sourcing programs in cocoa, sugar and cotton, developed in 2014, will be rolled out in 2015 so that, for the first time, companies have two ways of engaging with Fairtrade  - either the existing route where their finished product can be certified and labelled with the Fairtrade mark, or they can commit to sourcing a certain amount of cocoa, sugar or cotton on Fairtrade terms under the new Fairtrade Sourcing Programs. More information is available here.