Fairtrade sales across more than 130 countries totalled €7.88 billion in 2016, almost five times more than only a decade before.
The market that grew fastest last year was Austria (+46%), followed by France, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland, which all saw more than 20% growth.
According to the organisation’s annual report, Fairtrade worked with more than 1.6 million farmers and workers globally in 2016, through more than 1,411 certified producer organisations across 73 countries.
Solid growth rates were achieved among key products: coffee sales increased by 3%, cocoa by 34%, sugar by 7%, and bananas, tea, and flowers and plants by 5% each.
Significant Progress
Farmers and workers under the programme also receive a Fairtrade Premium - an extra sum of money that producer groups invest in projects of their choice. In 2016, the Premium amounted to €150 million, the highest in Fairtrade’s history.
According to Global Fairtrade CEO Darío Soto Abril, the organisation is aiming for "significant progress" towards a living wage for the producers and workers with whom it works by 2020.
To achieve this, Fairtrade will have to incentivise and encourage producer organisations to sell a higher percentage of their produce under Fairtrade terms.
Fairtrade plans to launch new services for companies, such as supply chain management, which should be rolled out next year.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
