FAIRTRADE CONTINUES TO GROW DESPITE ECONOMY
The Fairtrade Foundation has unveiled the latest research showing continued consumer confidence and business support for Fairtrade in the UK.
The public continues to remain loyal to Fairtrade during the economic slowdown.
According to TNS, latest awareness figures for September 2009 show that more people than ever, 72%, now recognise the FAIRTRADE Mark, up from 68% in April 2009. In a different survey of 25,000 households, TNS market penetration figures show that consumers are spending more on Fairtrade products, as the average weight of purchase grew over the last year by 5.5% from £18.19 to £19.171. These results are underpinned by new insight suggesting 95% of people say they would strongly recommend or talk positively about Fairtrade.
But the Fairtrade Foundation urges businesses large and small to continue to scale up their engagement with Fairtrade to help tackle poverty in developing countries.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Fairtrade in the UK.
The theme for Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 (22 February – 7 March), The Big Swap, has been unveiled. Fairtrade Foundation Marketing Director Cheryl Sloan said: ‘For two weeks we want everybody in the UK joining in the campaign and swapping for Fairtrade. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa, your usual T-shirt for a Fairtrade cotton T-shirt. And we need lots of swaps made – one million and one in fact. Each and every swap proves that the people of the UK want producers in the developing world to get a fairer deal.
This will be our first partnership with creative agency Wieden & Kennedy and the Big Swap campaign will help Fairtrade move further into the mainstream and tip the balance of trade in favour of marginalised producers.’
Companies will be encouraged to build on this year’s success, which has seen several exciting developments such as the launch of Fairtrade olive oil from Palestine and Fairtrade beauty through to several significant conversions to Fairtrade from major companies. Fairtrade Fortnight presents companies with a unique opportunity to market Fairtrade and is the perfect time for businesses to improve visibility at point-of-sale, or even extend their range of Fairtade certified products.
Over the last 15 years, this unique social movement has taken root, with millions of ordinary people taking part in Fairtrade Fortnight and then making their everyday actions contribute to making global trade fairer for 7 million people – farmers, workers and their families – in 59 countries across the developing world.
Today, there are over 4,500 Fairtrade certified products, 450 Fairtrade Towns, more than 3,000 registered Fairtrade Schools, 100 Fairtrade Universities and Colleges, and over 5,000 Fairtrade faith groups.
Related posts:
- NEW PACKAGING FOR HARRY HILL’S FAIRTRADE NUTS
- MORRISONS SUPPORTS FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
- STARBUCKS NOW TOTALLY FAIRTRADE
- Sales increase on Fairtrade goods
- Fairtrade awareness soars
- CADBURY’S DONATES PROFITS FOR FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
- Businesses back Fairtrade campaign
- Tate & Lyle announces Fairtrade link
Tags: 15th anniversary, balance of trade, Big, campaign, consumer confidence, cuppa, Director Cheryl Sloan, economic slowdown, Fairtrade, fairtrade foundation, fairtrade mark, Fortnight, Foundation, foundation marketing, Mark, market, market penetration, million and one, Palestine, poverty in developing countries, shirt, Swap, TNS, UK, year
