As Fairtrade Fortnight continues celebrating and raising awareness of ethical trading, Central England Co-operative can reveal its shoppers are increasingly finding a place for Fairtrade products in their baskets.
Data from the retailer shows that shoppers spent £7.4m on Fairtrade products at Central England Co-op Food Stores in 2018, 14% more than in the previous 12 months. The rise suggests that consumers are increasingly placing importance on where their food and drink comes from, as well as becoming more familiar with what the Fairtrade Mark on the products they buy symbolises.
The figures also reveal an increase in customer spending on Fairtrade products during Fairtrade Fortnight itself in 2018, up 12% from 2017, showing the positive effects the annual awareness campaign has on shoppers.
Martin Hill, Head of Product and Category at Central England Co-op, said, “As a co-operative retailer, ethical trading is of significant importance to us and we are committed to both promoting and growing the range of delicious Fairtrade products in our Food Stores.
“From our extensive own-brand Fairtrade chocolate range, including Easter Eggs, to our wide selection of Fairtrade wines from all corners of the world, there are so many ways to support ethical trading at Central England Co-op.”
Fairtrade Fortnight 2019 takes place this year between February 25 and March 10 and aims to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and who are often exploited and badly paid.
The Co-operative has proudly supported the development of Fairtrade since the Fairtrade Mark was launched in 1994 and is the UK’s largest convenience seller of Fairtrade products and sources major Fairtrade commodities as ingredients across its entire own brand range.
Central England Co-op Food Stores boast a varied range of Fairtrade products and not just the more high profile items that people tend to think of when they think of Fairtrade, such as chocolate, coffee and sugar.
Some of the more surprising Fairtrade products stocked by the retailer include Co-op Fairtrade Roses, Co-op Fairtrade Baby Cotton Wool Pads, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Chilean Clear Honey, Co-op Fairtrade Pure Orange Juice and even Co-op Fairly Traded Household Gloves.
Top 10 Best Selling Fairtrade products in Central England Co-op Food Stores in 2018
Co-op Fairtrade Bananas
Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Pure Cane Sugar
Co-op Fairtrade Chocolate Brownies
Co-op Fairtrade Long Stem Rose
Co-op Fairtrade All Butter Flapjacks
Co-op Fairtrade South African Chenin Blanc Wine
Co-op Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc Wine
Co-op Fairtrade Rich Roast Coffee Granules
Co-op Fairtrade Cape Chardonnay Wine
Co-op 160 Fairtrade 99 Tea Bags