Somerfield could boost Co-op’s Fairtrade sales by £40m

THE CO-OPERATIVE Group believes that its purchase of the Somerfield supermarket chain could boost sales of its Fairtrade products by £40m a year.

The Manchester-based organisation has already introduced its Fairtrade hot drinks range into Somerfield stores along with many other Fairtrade lines as part of the integration process.

The move makes Fairtrade accessible to millions more shoppers while also benefit ting hundreds of thousands of growers in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Group chief executive Peter Marks pledged that the Co-operative’s commitment to ethical trading would be extended to Somerfield when the purchase was completed last year.

He said: “The Co-operative has led the way on Fairtrade, having championed the Fairtrade Mark since its inception, and our pioneering development work has helped the UK become one of the largest Fairtrade markets in the world.  

“We are continuing this commitment by extending our extensive Fairtrade range to the Somerfield estate, and we will continue to add more Fairtrade lines to our entire 3,000 store network, as well as helping to develop more Fairtrade products and market opportunities for growers in developing countries.”

The Co-operative and Somerfield are offering up to 20% off selected Fairtrade products to tie in with Fairtrade Fortnight which runs from February 22 until March 7.

The theme of this year’s event is called ‘The Big Swap’ which hopes to encourage people across Britain to switch to their allegiance to Fairtrade products.

Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “The Co-operative and their customers have given invaluable support to Fairtrade over the years, and their commitment to swap all their own-brand hot beverages, as well as other lines, in Somerfield stores to Fairtrade is great news for growers, workers and their communities around the world.”

In 2008, as part of its Food Ethical Policy, the Co-operative became the first retailer to convert its entire own-brand hot drinks category of tea, coffee and hot chocolate to Fairtrade. 

The Co-operative’s long-term commitment to Fairtrade is demonstrated by its involvement in a project designed to empower small-scale tea producers in Kenya. 

The project, one of the largest Fairtrade projects in the world, aims to help 8,000 smallholders form co-operatives, achieve Fairtrade certification and diversify into other products. 

It is anticipated that the growers will eventually be able to supply The Co-operative with tea for its 99 Tea blend.