The Fairtrade Foundation has welcomed UK retailer The Co-operative Group's announcement last week that it is rolling out an ambitious three-year Ethical Operating Plan.
'We are delighted, on behalf of Fairtrade producers around the globe and UK Fairtrade supporters, that a key element of the plan is devoted to tacking global poverty through Fairtrade,' the organisation said.
The plan reportedly includes a major programme of support for Fairtrade, with the retailer promising: 'If it can be Fairtrade, it will be Fairtrade.'
The Co-operative has set itself the target of having 90 per cent of its primary commodities that are sourced from the developing world certified to Fairtrade standards.
'At the check-out, there is a modern day revolution going on as people flex their consumer muscles to demand and look for Fairtrade products in order to drive social, economic and environmental changes in the way our food, drink and clothes are made and traded,' said Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation. 'At the forefront of those changes is The Co-operative and its 6m members – a living example of just how much ordinary people can achieve when they put their minds to tackling injustice.'
The Co-operative was the first UK retailer to introduce Fairtrade oranges and mangoes to its range of produce.
Despite the economic downturn, sales of Fairtrade produce at The Co-operative have remained strong, increasing year-on-year by more than 50 per cent.
Peter Marks, chief executive of The Co-operative, commented: 'We have seen a substantial increase in Fairtrade sales and that's surprising I guess because in a recession you think people are more concerned about price. But we have found our customers in The Co-operative are more concerned with ethics. They don't just ignore their values and principles because there is a recession on.'
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