Fairtrade sales and new commitments in the UK

Source: Fairtrade Foundation

The Fairtrade Foundation has revealed that both the volume of food sales and the retail value of Fairtrade sales were impacted by the challenges affecting the mainstream grocery sector. The estimated retail value of sales of Fairtrade products were £1.67 billion (about €2.26 billion) in 2014, down 3.7% year-on-year.

Picture: Fairtrade coffee farmers

Some Fairtrade products have performed well

Some Fairtrade products have performed well despite the current economic climate. Sales of bananas grew 3% by volume, in part due to Tesco relisting a product line early in the year. Sales of coffee increased 2% by volume, with Fairtrade switches by Tesco, Waitrose and Wild Bean Café, plus innovations such as Fairtrade coffee pods from brands including Cafédirect and Marks & Spencer, playing their part. Volumes of Fairtrade tea and Fairtrade cocoa sales fell slightly, by 1% and 2% respectively. In non-food categories, the launch of Fairtrade roses in Aldi and increased Fairtrade flower sales in Asda, Sainsbury’s and the Co-operative, meant that 25 million more stems were sold in 2014, compared to 2013, boosting sales volumes of Fairtrade flowers by 30%. 

Mars will source Fairtrade cocoa

Marshas just announced a commitment to source all cocoa for Mars bars sold in the UK and Ireland from Fairtrade certified sources by autumn 2015. A new sustainability partnership has been announced by Waitrose and the Fairtrade Foundation. At Waitrose, it will mean that as well as its wide and ever-growing range of Fairtrade-certified products, the work of the Waitrose Foundation will be verified by the Fairtrade Foundation - the first time the organisation will verify a third-party scheme.

More information is available here.