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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/feb/29/fairtrade-sugar-blues-bring-down-ethical-schemes-total-sales
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| Fairtrade sugar blues bring down ethical scheme's total sales | Fairtrade sugar blues bring down ethical scheme's total sales |
| (6 months later) | |
| Sales of Fairtrade sugar collapsed by over a third in the UK last year as a result of changes in EU market regulations, leading to total sales of goods produced under the ethical trading scheme falling slightly to £1.6bn from £1.7bn in 2014. | Sales of Fairtrade sugar collapsed by over a third in the UK last year as a result of changes in EU market regulations, leading to total sales of goods produced under the ethical trading scheme falling slightly to £1.6bn from £1.7bn in 2014. |
| But despite continued turbulence in the UK grocery sector, volumes of Fairtrade tea, coffee, cocoa, bananas, flowers and wine all grew in 2015 by healthy margins as consumers supported the sector. | But despite continued turbulence in the UK grocery sector, volumes of Fairtrade tea, coffee, cocoa, bananas, flowers and wine all grew in 2015 by healthy margins as consumers supported the sector. |
| The star performers were Fairtrade wine, which enjoyed a 17% increase in 2015; flowers with a 14% increase; and a coffee with a 12% gain. Volumes of sales in Fairtrade tea – up against competition from branded tea where 80% is on permanent special offer – edged up by 3%, cocoa products by 6% and bananas 5%. | The star performers were Fairtrade wine, which enjoyed a 17% increase in 2015; flowers with a 14% increase; and a coffee with a 12% gain. Volumes of sales in Fairtrade tea – up against competition from branded tea where 80% is on permanent special offer – edged up by 3%, cocoa products by 6% and bananas 5%. |
| But in 2015 the decline in the price of sugar in Europe led to a shift away from cane towards domestic, subsidised beet sugar, delivering an effective triple whammy of reducing cane farmers’ livelihoods, less help for Fairtrade farming communities and much cheaper sugar at a time of national concern over obesity. | But in 2015 the decline in the price of sugar in Europe led to a shift away from cane towards domestic, subsidised beet sugar, delivering an effective triple whammy of reducing cane farmers’ livelihoods, less help for Fairtrade farming communities and much cheaper sugar at a time of national concern over obesity. |
| The new figures, published by the Fairtrade Foundation – which aims to protect farmers in developing countries by promising a minimum price and a premium to invest in community projects – came after an unprecedented decline the previous year. | The new figures, published by the Fairtrade Foundation – which aims to protect farmers in developing countries by promising a minimum price and a premium to invest in community projects – came after an unprecedented decline the previous year. |
| In 2014 sales of Fairtrade goods fell for the first time since the ethical trading scheme was founded 20 years ago as cash-strapped consumers tightened their belts. That slide of almost 4%, after years of double-digit growth, reflected wider troubles in the grocery market as shoppers put less in their baskets and turn to cheaper chains such as Aldi and Lidl to save money. | In 2014 sales of Fairtrade goods fell for the first time since the ethical trading scheme was founded 20 years ago as cash-strapped consumers tightened their belts. That slide of almost 4%, after years of double-digit growth, reflected wider troubles in the grocery market as shoppers put less in their baskets and turn to cheaper chains such as Aldi and Lidl to save money. |
| Michael Gidney, the chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation, said of the new data: “These figures show that British shoppers remain committed to Fairtrade, despite the turbulence in the grocery market. That’s good news for those businesses offering Fairtrade products. | Michael Gidney, the chief executive of the Fairtrade Foundation, said of the new data: “These figures show that British shoppers remain committed to Fairtrade, despite the turbulence in the grocery market. That’s good news for those businesses offering Fairtrade products. |
| “We’re delighted to see increases in most of the categories for which Fairtrade is best known; this means more producers are getting a better deal for the food they grow for us.” | “We’re delighted to see increases in most of the categories for which Fairtrade is best known; this means more producers are getting a better deal for the food they grow for us.” |
| The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body that licences the use of the familiar blue and green Fairtrade mark on products – more than 5,000 in the UK – which meet international standards. Today more than 1.5 million people – farmers and workers – across more than 74 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system, but the Foundation warned that they suffer from market volatility and many go hungry. | The Fairtrade Foundation is an independent certification body that licences the use of the familiar blue and green Fairtrade mark on products – more than 5,000 in the UK – which meet international standards. Today more than 1.5 million people – farmers and workers – across more than 74 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system, but the Foundation warned that they suffer from market volatility and many go hungry. |
| With the annual Fairtrade Fortnight starting on Monday, it called on consumers to stand up for farmers facing poverty and buy more Fairtrade products. Sales of Fairtrade fresh and dried fruit and nuts also suffered decline in 2015, as did Fairtrade cotton. | With the annual Fairtrade Fortnight starting on Monday, it called on consumers to stand up for farmers facing poverty and buy more Fairtrade products. Sales of Fairtrade fresh and dried fruit and nuts also suffered decline in 2015, as did Fairtrade cotton. |
| Many UK supermarkets stock only Fairtrade bananas and last year more than 88m more Fairtrade bananas were eaten compared with 2014, meaning that Britons munch their way through an average of 5m every day. Consumers brewed an additional 184m cups of Fairtrade tea in 2015, compared with 2014, while the nation’s love affair with Fairtrade coffee showed no signs of abating – with an estimated 255m more cups drunk in 2015 compared with 2014. | Many UK supermarkets stock only Fairtrade bananas and last year more than 88m more Fairtrade bananas were eaten compared with 2014, meaning that Britons munch their way through an average of 5m every day. Consumers brewed an additional 184m cups of Fairtrade tea in 2015, compared with 2014, while the nation’s love affair with Fairtrade coffee showed no signs of abating – with an estimated 255m more cups drunk in 2015 compared with 2014. |
| Gidney continued: “Sales in many commodities remain strong for Fairtrade, yet the irony of the EU flooding the market with cheap sugar at a time of increased concern over obesity is surely lost on no one, with the added risk of pushing 200,000 farmers in developing countries back into poverty.” | Gidney continued: “Sales in many commodities remain strong for Fairtrade, yet the irony of the EU flooding the market with cheap sugar at a time of increased concern over obesity is surely lost on no one, with the added risk of pushing 200,000 farmers in developing countries back into poverty.” |
| The fortnight will involve activities in local communities, shops, cafes, workplaces, schools and faith networks. Farming representatives from Colombia, India and Kenya will also be touring the UK to meet local businesses and members of the public, highlighting the impact and the challenges they face. | The fortnight will involve activities in local communities, shops, cafes, workplaces, schools and faith networks. Farming representatives from Colombia, India and Kenya will also be touring the UK to meet local businesses and members of the public, highlighting the impact and the challenges they face. |
| Gidney said the Foundation remained “cautiously optimistic” over the outlook for 2016, but was buoyed by recent announcements – and more expected this fortnight – from a range of businesses extending their commitments to buying on Fairtrade terms. These include the Co-operative stocking Tate & Lyle Fairtrade sugars in addition to its own-label Fairtrade sugar – which means it becomes the first retailer to make its entire sugar range Fairtrade. This year will also see the first full year of sales of Mars bars sourced with Fairtrade cocoa, which first hit supermarket shelves in the autumn of 2015. | Gidney said the Foundation remained “cautiously optimistic” over the outlook for 2016, but was buoyed by recent announcements – and more expected this fortnight – from a range of businesses extending their commitments to buying on Fairtrade terms. These include the Co-operative stocking Tate & Lyle Fairtrade sugars in addition to its own-label Fairtrade sugar – which means it becomes the first retailer to make its entire sugar range Fairtrade. This year will also see the first full year of sales of Mars bars sourced with Fairtrade cocoa, which first hit supermarket shelves in the autumn of 2015. |