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Annual UK sales of goods carrying the Fairtrade mark have passed £1billion ($1.6bn, €1.2bn) for the first time, bucking the recessionary trend in other spending areas.
A late 2009 Ipsos MORI poll had indicated a rapidly declining interest in ethical shopping as the recession began to hit consumers. However, 2010 saw Fairtrade sales reach £1.3bn, up from £840million in 2009.
The Fairtrade Foundation has said sales could pass £2bn next year if the trend continues. Harriet Lamb, the organization’s executive director, said: ‘Fairtrade is going from strength to strength because the public want it, it makes business sense, and, most importantly, because it’s working for the millions of farmers, workers and their families who see Fairtrade as their lifeline in these tough times.’
Sales have been boosted by the label’s increasing presence in big retail stores, a trend that looks likely to continue.
Sainsbury’s, now the world’s largest Fairtrade retailer, hopes to generate £500m sales by 2015, and the Co-op recently said it would expand its Fairtrade lines as part of a new ethical strategy.
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