Fairtrade & ethical trading
We believe in social responsibility and self help, so we want a better deal for growers and producers in developing countries. This is why we stock fair trade products in all our food stores. We are committed to fair trade which guarantees a better deal for producers and the Co-operative were the first retailer to develop an own brand fair trade range.
Ethical trading is primarily aimed at helping waged workers rather than independent growers.
The Co-operative was the first major retailer to stock Fairtrade products in their stores in 1992. The Fairtrade products we now stock fall into nine main categories: Coffee, Tea, Confectionery, Beers/Wines/Spirits, Bananas, Fruits & Juices, Sugar, Composite Products, Branded Products.
Showing our past and continuing commitment to Fairtrade:
- In 1992, we were the first supermarket to embrace Fairtrade by stocking Cafédirect.
- In 2000, we introduced the UK's first Fairtrade bananas.
- Co-operative Milk Chocolate 45g was the UK's first own-brand product to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark.
- In 2002, we converted all its own-brand block chocolate to Fairtrade.
- In 2003, we converted all its own-brand coffee to Fairtrade.
- We introduced the world's first Fairtrade mangoes and pineapples.
- Our Fairtrade Chilean Carmenére was the UK's first fairly-traded supermarket own-brand wine.
We campaign for and develop Fairtrade in communities and has launched guides on how to become a Fairtrade Town and how schools can become 'Fairtrade friendly'.
At the beginning of 2006, we sourced five new own-label wines from the Du Toitskloof co-operative in South Africa. The wines are all produced from grapes grown by the 22 farms belonging to the co-operative. This is one of the largest Fairtrade projects in the world.
In September 2006, we launched the UK's first Fairtrade wines from Argentina.
Every year we have a Fairtrade Fortnight which gives you the opportunity to buy these products at discounted prices.
For full information of these products and where they come from click here to visit the Co-operative Group's Fairtrade site. You can also make your primary school Fairtrade Friendly by downloading a school pack on this site.
For more information on how you can get involved by making your town a Fairtrade Town click here.