Fairtrade on the move
FAIRTRADE ON THE MOVE FOR FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT
Commuters passing through some of the UK’s biggest railway stations will be able to join in an array of exciting activities to highlight this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight. The two-week annual campaign (25 Feb – 9 March) celebrating Fairtrade products will see action-packed events taking place around the country!
Fairtrade has never been an easier choice for commuters, with Virgin Trains, Virgin Atlantic, Ryan Air, Midland Mainline, and cafes and restaurants in stations and airports across the UK serving Fairtrade drinks and snacks. Sales of Fairtrade products in the foodservice sector are now growing faster than within retail. Sales of roast and ground coffee alone grew by 98% in 2006. Demand for greater availability of Fairtrade products outside supermarkets and shops is rising significantly. In a recent OC&C online consumer survey, 65%of respondents said Fairtrade products should be more available out of home, not just on shop shelves.
Commuters at Liverpool Street station are being given the chance by AMT Coffee, which was the first coffee chain to switch to 100% Fairtrade in 2004, to take part in an attempt to break the Guinness World Recordä for the World’s Largest Coffee Morning* in one location. AMT Coffee will need over 2,620 commuters to gather and enjoy a free cup of coffee if it is to beat the current record. Commuters will be offered a complimentary Fairtrade coffee in Liverpool Street station between 4am and midday on 28 February. And at St Pancras station a new AMT Coffee outlet will be officially opened on the first Thursday of Fairtrade Fortnight at a ceremony attended by Fairtrade Costa Rican coffee farmer Gerardo Arias Camacho and Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation.
Talking about Fairtrade prior to his second visit to the UK, Gerardo said: “The Fairtrade price allows us to survive as coffee farmers. It covers our costs of production, let’s us send our kids to school, buy clothes and keep a roof over our heads”.
Alistair McCallum-Toppin, founder and managing director of AMT Coffee explains what’s behind the record attempt: “We believe that the attempt to hold the World’s Largest Coffee Morning is a fun and exciting way to further raise awareness of Fairtrade issues. Our aim is to encourage other companies to help the farmers whose quality of life literally depends on making the Fairtrade choice.”
Virgin Trains will celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight by giving out free samples of Fairtrade tea and coffee to commuters at Birmingham International station concourse. Sampling will take place on Thursday 6 March between 0800 and 1800 and will be supported by campaigners from Birmingham’s Fairtrade Town campaign group. Virgin Trains switched all on-board tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar and chocolate sprinkles to Fairtrade two years ago, and has introduced Fairtrade into its executive lounges in several rail stations. For the duration of Fairtrade Fortnight Virgin Trains will have a special offer of a Fairtrade Cappuccino, Latte or Americano coffee plus with a Fairtrade Divine milk chocolate bar, all for £2.20. Virgin Atlantic also offers Fairtrade teas and coffees to all passengers on board its flights. Choose any freshly ground
Kay Perry, Virgin Trains’ Retail Business Manager, said: “Fairtrade drinks have now been available on Virgin Trains services for over two years. We have always been conscious of our responsibilities to people throughout the world and the need to play our part in protecting the environment. The use of Fairtrade products by Virgin Trains is a logical and significant contribution to economic and social improvements.”
The activity at Birmingham International will coincide with the arrival of the Choose Fairtrade Bus in Birmingham’s Victoria Square. The specially adapted open-top campaign bus will set off from London on a grand tour of eight Fairtrade Towns and Cities across the UK during the Fortnight, spreading the word about Fairtrade and calling on local people to Change Today, Choose Fairtrade - the theme of Fairtrade Fortnight 2008. The bus, which starts out at the launch Fun Fair event in London on Sunday 24 February, will be the focus of interactive displays and activities, live music, discussions, competitions, and the opportunity to sample delicious Fairtrade products and meet Fairtrade producers. The bus experience will inform ‘passengers’ about Fairtrade, inspiring them to choose Fairtrade products in their daily shopping and give a better deal to disadvantaged producers.
Railway station food operator Select Service Partner SSP will be organizing Fairtrade chocolate sampling at various distribution points on station concourses at London’s Victoria, Euston and Charing Cross stations and at Birmingham New Street. SSP staff will be supported by campaigners from London’s Fairtrade Boroughs. Station food shops Camden Food Co, Millie’s Cookies, Caffè Ritazza, The Pasty Shop, and Whistlestop will all be featuring retail display materials in their outlets to inform customers about Fairtrade. SSP will be producing customer loyalty cards for Fairtrade Fortnight to promote Fairtrade coffee at Camden Food Co, Millie’s Cookies, Caffè Ritazza and The Pasty Shop. Whistlestop will also be introducing Divine Fairtrade chocolate for Fairtrade Fortnight.
Network Rail will be providing advertising support including large digital screens and large posters to retailers who provide Fairtrade products on 13 of its largest UK managed stations. They include: Charing Cross, Euston, Fenchurch Street, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo, as well as Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central and Liverpool Lime Street.
Thirsty commuters can stop for some caffeine-packed refreshment at sandwich, soup and coffee shop group EAT. This Fairtrade Fortnight, EAT has switched all its coffee to Fairtrade across its 85 outlets. The group serves 80,000 cups of coffee each week, so the switch will significantly benefit communities in Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil and Sumatra where their coffee is sourced.
Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: “Fairtrade is becoming more readily available for people on the move and Fairtrade Fortnight is a fabulous opportunity for everyone to choose Fairtrade and join the celebrations. Last year 10,000 separate events were held, and we expect many more this year. By choosing Fairtrade when you are on a train journey or on the go, commuters are helping drive positive change for communities in the developing world. Research** shows that 6 out of 10 people see Fairtrade as the most effective way of helping poor people in the developing world. But it’s vital that we all choose Fairtrade whenever and wherever we can so that more farmers and workers can get a better deal.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
- More than 3,000 products have been licensed to carry the FAIRTRADE Mark. The FAIRTRADE Mark is the only independent consumer label that ensures farmers in developing countries receive an agreed and stable price for the crops they grow that covers the cost of sustainable production, as well as additional income for farmers and workers to invest in the future. Retail sales of Fairtrade certified products topped £290 million in 2006 and have grown 40% year-on-year over the past five years. Awareness levels of the FAIRTRADE Mark among the UK population reached their highest level last year at 57% (TNS Omnimas).
- The full range of more than 3,000 Fairtrade certified products now includes coffee, tea, herbal teas, chocolate, cocoa, sugar, bananas, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, avocados, apples, pears, lemons, oranges, satsumas, lychees, coconuts, dried fruit, juices, smoothies, biscuits, cakes & snacks, honey, jams, chutney & sauces, rice, quinoa, herbs & spices, seeds, nuts & nut oil, wines, beer, rum, confectionary, muesli, yoghurt, ice-cream, flowers, sports balls, sugar body scrub and cotton products including clothing, homewear, cloth toys and cotton wool.
The Choose Fairtrade Bus Tour dates are as follows:
- 24 Feb (Sun 11.00- 16.00) Riverside Walk, South Bank, London SE1 (Nr Gabriel’s Wharf)
- 26 Feb (Tues) Ipswich
- 28 Feb (Thurs) Leeds
- 29 Feb (Fri 11.00-12.00) Middlesbrough
- 29 Feb (Fri 13.30-14.30) Durham
- 1 Mar (Sat) Carlisle
- 1 Mar (Sat) Sunderland
- 2 Mar (Sun) Glasgow
- 3 Mar (Mon) Garstang
- 4 Mar (Tues) Liverpool
- 5 Mar (Wed 11-13.05) Stoke-on-Trent
- 5 Mar (Wed 14.30 – 15.30) Lichfield
- 6 Mar (Thurs) Birmingham
- 8 Mar (Sat) Cardiff
- 9 Mar (Sun) Bristol
Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 is supported by ActionAid, Banana Link, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Methodist Relief Development Fund, the Mothers’ Union, National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Oxfam, People & Planet, Public & Commercial Services Union, SCIAF, Shared Interest Foundation, Soroptimist GBI, Tearfund, Traidcraft Exchange, the United Reformed Church, and the World Development Movement.
*The coffee company has pledged to donate the equivalent value to fellow record-breakers Macmillan Cancer Support, which this year holds its 18th annual flagship fundraiser for the World's Biggest Simultaneous Coffee Morning in many locations.
**Source: OC&C Online Consumer Survey May 2006, OC&C analysis