Central England Co-op data suggests shoppers are increasingly turning to Fairtrade products
Posted by james brindle | Published: 05/03/2019
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
You can find out more about Fairtrade Fortnight at Central England Co-op and our current deals at https://www.centralengland.coop/food/fairtrade-fortnight
Notes to editors
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK.
It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with the Society’s principal areas of activity being food, funeral services, travel shops, and property investment.
Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2019.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.
Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth and James Brindle at Central England Co-operative on 01543 421390
Email – publicrelations@centralengland.coop