| With a record rise in sales bucking the trends of | | | | global brands such as Starbucks, Ben and |
| the economic downturn and new markets opening | | | | Jerry’s and Candico Sugar who have |
| up in developed Asia, South Africa and Mexico, | | | | changed their procurement policies to buy more |
| Fairtrade looks set to take centre stage on | | | | Fairtrade ingredients. |
| supermarket shelves the world over. With a | | | | Fair trade advocates the payment of a |
| record rise in sales bucking the trends of the | | | | just price to developing-world producers of |
| economic downturn and new markets opening up | | | | agricultural products such as bananas, coffee, |
| in developed Asia, South Africa and Mexico, | | | | cocoa, flowers, cotton, fresh fruit, herbs and |
| Fairtrade looks set to take centre stage on | | | | spices, sugar, rice, tea and wine. However, the |
| supermarket shelves the world over. | | | | gold mining industry might be the next to get a |
| Despite the global financial crisis, Fairtrade Labeling | | | | Fairtrade makeover, as FLO and the Alliance for |
| Organizations International (FLO) reported a 22% | | | | Responsible Mining are reportedly working on a |
| rise in global sales of Fairtrade certified products in | | | | new standard for the precious metal. |
| 2008, with annual sales of over $4bn (USD). | | | | There are currently two global standards for |
| According to a major survey recently conducted | | | | Fairtrade products — one for the US |
| by FLO, half the citizens in the West now | | | | Canada (the Fair Trade Certified Mark) and |
| recognize the Fairtrade Mark and nine out of ten | | | | another for the rest of the world (International |
| of those people see it as a trustworthy label | | | | Fairtrade Certification Mark or just FAIRTRADE |
| — not bad for a movement that started | | | | Mark). In the future, however, the standards are |
| out in new age shops and niche marketplaces | | | | likely to merge to create one universally |
| back in the 1980s. | | | | recognized label, most likely based on the existing |
| The Fairtrade label is increasingly becoming | | | | International Fairtrade Certification Mark. |
| essential for doing business in many markets | | | | To earn the right to display either mark on their |
| especially in the sale of bananas and coffee, | | | | products, retailers and producers must be able to |
| Fairtrade’s two strongest performers. | | | | ensure the source of production has been through |
| Major retailers like Tescos (UK) now have their | | | | the FLO-authorized certification process, overseen |
| own range of Fairtrade products and in March | | | | by a third party audit of facilities — taking |
| 2009, Cadburys became the first major brand of | | | | worker rights and environmental issues into |
| chocolate to announce the launch of a | | | | consideration - as well as looking distribution |
| mainstream Fairtrade-certified product. This | | | | channels and supply chains. |
| follows the consumer-driven pattern of other | | | | |