Central England Co-op research suggests shoppers are continuing to choose Fairtrade with chocolate products increasingly popular
Central England Co-operative can reveal its shoppers are increasingly finding a place for Fairtrade products in their baskets with Fairtrade chocolate growing in popularity.
Data from the retailer shows that shoppers spent almost £7.7m on Fairtrade products at Central England Co-op Food Stores in 2019, 3% more than in the previous 12 months and 17% more than in 2017.
The figures suggest that shoppers are becoming increasingly aware of where the food and drink they buy comes from and are affording more and more importance to the ethics behind the products they purchase.
A study of a selection of Central England Co-op stores showed confectionery products were the fastest growing Fairtrade purchases in 2019, seeing large increases from the previous 12 months, with white wines also performing strongly.
However, Co-op Fairtrade bananas remained the top selling Fairtrade product in Central England Co-op stores across the year.
Sita Chauhan, Customer Experience and Insights Manager at Central England Co-op, said, “As a co-operative retailer, ethical trading is of significant importance to us and we are committed to supporting Fairtrade and continuing to promote a range of fantastic products in our stores.
“From our extensive own-brand Fairtrade chocolate range, including Easter eggs, to our wide selection of Fairtrade wines from all corners of the world, there are so many ways to support ethical trading at Central England Co-op.
“This research highlights how our customers and members increasingly join us in giving importance to the ethics of where their food and drink come from which is really encouraging to see.”
Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 takes place this year between February 24 and March 8 and aims to celebrate the people who grow our food, people who live in some of the poorest countries in the world and those who are often exploited and badly paid.
The Co-operative has proudly supported the development of Fairtrade since the Fairtrade Mark was launched in 1994 and is the UK’s largest convenience seller of Fairtrade products and sources major Fairtrade commodities as ingredients across its entire own brand range.
Central England Co-op stores boast a varied range of Fairtrade products and not just the more high-profile items that people tend to think of when they think of Fairtrade, such as chocolate, coffee and sugar.
Some of the more surprising Fairtrade products stocked by the retailer include Co-op Fairtrade Roses, Co-op Fairtrade Baby Cotton Wool Buds, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Chilean Clear Honey, Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Fruit and Nut Granola and even Co-op Fairly Traded Household Gloves.
Top 10 Best Selling Co-op Fairtrade products in Central England Co-op Food Stores in 2019:
Co-op Fairtrade Bananas
Co-op Fairtrade Long Stem Roses
Co-op Fairtrade South African Chenin Blanc Wine
Co-op Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc Wine
Co-op Fairtrade Cape Chardonnay Wine
Co-op Fairtrade Dark Chocolate
Co-op Fairtrade Demerara Sugar
Co-op Fairtrade Mixed Roses Bouquet
Co-op Fairtrade Gold Coffee
Co-op Fairtrade Milk Chocolate
