Martin Hill Joins The Fairtrade Foundation As Head of Commercial Relations

The Fairtrade Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Martin Hill as Head of Commercial Relations with immediate effect.

The Fairtrade Foundation is a certification body that licenses the FAIRTRADE Mark to products in the UK which meet international standards. The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

Martin brings a huge wealth of retail experience from over 25 years with the Co-op, most recently as Chief Officer of the South-East region’s retailing division. As a member of the Foundation’s senior management, Martin will lead the commercial team in its work with retailers, caterers, wholesalers and more than 200 companies licensing the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on over 1,500 Fairtrade products today.

Martin said: “I am delighted to have joined a very strong team who have been making significant progress in raising the profile and penetration of Fairtrade products within mainstream retailing. More and more major companies are now maximizing their support for the FAIRTRADE Mark in order to deliver what consumers are increasingly expecting.”

This new post will provide dedicated leadership to the commercial team and create additional capacity for the Directors to focus on the Foundation’s work of developing the Fairtrade system so as to maximize its impact for producers.

Ian Bretman, Deputy Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: “We are delighted to welcome Martin to the Foundation. Martin’s appointment will strengthen our growing team. Martin’s background of 25 years at the Co-op means he brings experience and understanding of both sides of our work – inspiring both ethical shoppers and consumers and successfully operating in a competitive retail environment”.

For further information, phone 020 7440 7695 /7686 or mobile 07770 957 451, or email martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk or eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk

Notes to Editors

1. The FAIRTRADE Mark is a certification mark and a registered trademark of Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) of which the Fairtrade Foundation is the UK member. This independent consumer label appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers are getting a better deal. Today, more than five million people - farmers, workers and their families - across 58 developing countries benefit from the international Fairtrade system.
2. The full range of Fairtrade products now includes coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, apples, pears, grapes, plums, lemons, oranges, satsumas, clementines, lychees, avocados, pineapples, mangoes, fruit juices, quinoa, peppers, green beans, coconut, dried fruit, rooibos tea, green tea, cakes and biscuits, honey, muesli, cereal bars, jams, chutney and sauces, herbs and spices, nuts and nut oil, wine, beer, rum, flowers, sports balls, rice, yoghurt, babyfood, sugar body scrub, cotton wool and cotton products.
   

The Fairtrade Foundation,
Room 204, 16 Baldwin’s Gardens,
London EC1N 7RJ.

Tel: 020 7405 5942
Fax: 020 7405 5943
Web: www.fairtrade.org.uk