UK: Leading businesses back Fairtrade Fortnight

Many of the UK’s leading retailers and brands are supporting Fairtrade Fortnight 2015 taking place from 23 February to 8 March 2015. The two-week national campaign will encourage UK shoppers to “choose products that change lives”. (Picture: The Action Guide is one of the tools to promote Fairtrade)

 First launched in 1995, this year's Fairtrade Fortnight will turn the spotlight on producers who grow some of the British public’s favourite everyday commodities – including cocoa, sugar and tea. Businesses supporting Fairtrade Fortnight range from pioneering Fairtrade brands such as Clipper, Cafédirect, Green & Black’s and Divine Chocolate, through to Ben & Jerry's, major brands such as Cadbury Dairy Milk, high street retailers including Sainsbury’s and the Co-operative, which both stock branded and own-label Fairtrade products, and out-of-home outlets such as Starbuck’s and Greggs.

Euan Venters, Commercial Director at the Fairtrade Foundation, says: “After 20 years, the Fairtrade Mark is the best-known ethical label in the world. But globally, less than 1% of sugar and less than 10% of tea is sold on Fairtrade terms so there is still a long way to go to make all trade fair." The Fairtrade Foundation is asking UK businesses to stock products that change lives, or use Fairtrade in their workplace, so that together they can make a greater difference to some of the world’s most disadvantaged farmers and workers, their families and their communities into the future. More information about the Fairtrade Fortnight 2015 is available here.