Fairtrade consumers can't find the product !

Fairtrade sales are up dramatically year on year, and research now shows this is because more people are buying; people are buying more; and consumers are buying a wider range of products. M&S now sells Fairtrade loose tea. Not a big market you may think, but M&S know their customers.

The most important finding in the research is that over 50% of would-be-consumers don't buy Fairtrade because........'they can't find it'.

This provides a great opportunity in 2008 for retailers of all sizes.

With the introduction of new savoury nuts and a fantastic Fairtrade Cola drink, its important the range is right.

If you need to know the very latest about this market, but can't be in Brussels for the international conference in January, call, and we'll arrange a personal de-brief for you.

NEW Londis Fairtrade Section

This week Londis opened in Kinsale, Ireland's Best Fairtrade Town, with a new fairtrade section.

Fairtrade Hampers

Great new Fairtrade hampers from Rushdale Wines. 2 sizes including new South African Fairtrade wine, After Dinner Mints, teas, cookies etc. contact http://www.rushdalewines.com/

Contact 021 470 1000 Ashley or Jane. A perfect way to introduce your own staff, managers etc to the growing range of Fairtrade products available in Ireland.

New Kenyan Fairtrade Tea

Superquinn have the new Robert Roberts Fairtrade Kenyan TeaBags. At €3.20 for 80 bags they're much cheaper than the €3.75 for the original Fairtrade 80s.

Fairtrade Cola

Fairtrade cola is about to be launched in Ireland. If you are interested in tasting it, and buying it for your customers, let me know now.

Musgraves Fairtrade Range

Musgraves has its own 'Excellence' Fairtrade tea bags now, and a wide range of foodservice coffee lines for the trade. 600 tea bags €13.15. Tesco own brand 80's work out at €14.48 for 600. More details available on request

SuperValu confuses consumers

An example, albeit unintended, of what happens when the price of cheap sweets gets in the way of the value of Fairtrade. As Bob Dylan said...'money doesn't talk, it swears' ! Big confectionery companies can buy space, like this SuperValu display, that was dedicated to Fairtrade, but not enough to pay someone to make sure the signs are correct ! The Fairtrade products have been dispersed around the store, but the staff didn't know where they were.

Jervis Centre Fairtrade Flags

As Dublin City Council continues its campaign to make Dublin a Fairtrade City, the flags are still flying this week outside the Jervis Shopping Centre and elsewhere.

SuperValu Fairtrade Chocolate sales go well

Fairtrade chocolate is now mainstream. See what one SuperValu owner is doing. It sells 3 times as much when displayed with other regular chocolate. There is no independent guarentee that their product is free from ingredients bought from poverty stricken growers. Only the Fairtrade Mark can do this !

M&S Fairtrade Xmas specials

As you'd expect M&S take the lead in Fairtrade for Xmas. Fantastic new Xmas Tea from Kenya, and some great new preserves like Hedgerow Preserve, and Cherry Jam. Anyone tried them ?

Bandon is new Fairtrade Town

Bandon Co Cork, home of Graham Norton, is Ireland's latest Fairtrade Town. And despite HQ still resisting the idea of dedicated Fairtrade sections in store, more than 20 SuperValus have now gone ahead and done it, including Bandon. Great tribute to consumers. Well done to Anne and the team.

The picture is of Kinsale SuperValu !

Newest Fairtrade Town

Skibereen has just become yet another Fairtrade Town. That's 24+ in Ireland now, and much of that is down to the work of local consumers. Local stores and businesses are stocking up, and at this weekend's West Cork Food Festival, the local committee were busy making a stand for the world's poorest nations from whom we buy products like coffee, cocoa, tea, soccer balls and cotton. Things we couldn't grow here even if we wanted to !

Best Confectionery Product 2007

Best Confectionery Product at the show. Divine's new Fairtrade Dark Chocolate with Fruit & Nuts is the latest greatest product in theDivine range. Divine is a company Anita Roddick helped set up, and who gave her shares to the cocoa growers to avoid them falling into the hands of L'Oreal who have no track record in Fairtrade !

Fairtrade award winners at SHOP

2 Fairtrade products won awards at the SHOP grocery event this week.

Doves Farm organic/fairtrade cereal bar range won 'Best Grocery Product', and Divine's brand new fairtrade Dark Chocolate with Fruit n Nuts won 'Best Confectionery Product'. Both products available from us now !

Fairtrade at SHOP Dublin Sept 2nd-4th

This Sunday 1st, Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd from 11-5 at RDS Dublin; 'Ready to Retail' Fairtrade sections on display, plus lots of new Fairtrade products now available to irish retailers. Plus 1230 each day special Fairtrade workshop featuring guest speakers from Fairtrade Mark Ireland and brands. The latest news on Fairtrade in Ireland.

Fairtrade Banana press pics

Sean Og O'Hailpin appeared in Business section of Irish Examiner last Saturday, as well as on front page of Evening Echo. Fairtrade gets another boost. Pictured with a giant inflatable Fairtrade Banana awareness of Fairtrade continues to be on the up ! Inflatable Fairtrade Bananas are available to stores wanting to promote sales. Remember Sainsbury ONLY sell Fairtrade Bananas in UK. M&S ONLY sell Fairtrade Coffees & Teas. Will Irish retailers always be followers in this market ?

Proof that Fairtrade works

This picture is evidence of the value of stocking Fairtrade brands like Clipper tea and coffee. Its the reason we are in business, and the reason we should all be trying harder.

Dunnes Fairtrade flowers

Dunnes selling some good looking bunches of Fairtrade flowers this week, but not all bunches have the logo.

SHOP Sept 2-4 Fairtrade seminars

At SHOP retail event at RDS Sept 2-4, Kinsale Distribution is organising a series of Fairtrade Workshops to help retailers keep up to speed with new products, sales trends, and future plans for Fairtrade in Ireland. Ask for info...

Eurospar cute Fairtrade sweet display

Eurospar Bandon is taking advantage of the FREE display unit for the new Buchanans range of 10 Fairtrade sweet bags. Locating it next to the Fairtrade section. The displays are available from Kinsale Distribution 021 477 3273

Good POS at Tesco Dundrum

Tesco have good POS at their Dundrum store. The section is impossible to miss !

Eurospar takes Fairtrade seriously

Clonakilty was Ireland's 1st Fairtrade Town. This is the dedicated section in the Eurospar store in the town.

Lidl New Fairtrade Range

Lidl have 5 new Fairtrade products. 100g Instant Freeze Dried Coffee €3.29, 1ltr Orange Juice €1.49, 500g Brown Sugar €1.99 , and 100g Milk & Dark Chocolate €1.49. Lidl also sell Fairtrade bananas in packs of 5 for €1.29.

World's 1st Fairtrade Peanut Butter

The world's first Fairtrade (and organic) Peanut Butter has been launched by Equal Exchange. Available crunchy or smooth, with or without salt, it tastes especially sweet when you realise the peanut farmers actually own over 40% of the company as well as benefiting from Fairtrade terms. Available July

Fairtrade Muesli expert now in Ireland

Alara have made Fairtrade muesli since 1992. Not only is it Fairtrade but get this. You know those aweful crispy sweet banana chips in most muesli ? Well this muesli has sun dried Ugandan Apple Bananas. No preservatives, sugar or oil used in the processing at all. Grown by women's groups and family co-operatives, who have bought solar driers with their extra income, to improve the consistent quality of the product. You can't get fairer than that !

Kinsale Fairtrade Town

SuperValu in Kinsale has a small Fairtrade section with about 25 items. Best sellers are Divine 70% Dark Chocolate and Buchanans bags of Fairtrade After Dinner Mints

Fairtrade Toffees

Buchanans have launched their first ever range of 10 Fairtrade sweets in 170g bags. Made with Fairtrade sugar, and featuring such favourites as Assorted Toffees, After Dinner Mints, vanilla Fudge and Liquorice Whirls.

Tesco take Fairtrade initiative

Tesco ireland have had a test Fairtrade section in their Clearwater/Finglas store since last October. 12 new stores have been added since March, as well as some great new Fairtrade products like Doves Farm organic Fairtrade cereal bars.

New supermarket initiative

SuperValu have around 20 stores now with dedicated Fairtrade sections, like this one in Merchants Quay, Cork.