Kinsale Fairtrade Fortnight activity ?

A day after Xmas, and this week is the best time to start planning Fairtrade Fortnight 09. Meantime there are plans for launching next Christmas's best new Fairtrade product...?? If you could suggest a great new Fairtrade product what would it be ?

Cork Fairtrade Towns join forces

Co. Cork Fairtrade Towns meet at 10am this Friday (19th) at the Bodega, Cornmarket St, Cork to consider ideas for Fairtrade Fortnight 2009. Come see the Fairtrade clothing from Belle Etik while your there !

Fairtrade Fortnight in Cork ??

So, its only just time to open the 4th window on your Divine Chocolate advent calendar, and we're already having to think about Fairtrade Fortnight next Feb. In Cork we now have Bantry, Bandon, Skibereen, Kinsale, Midleton, Youghal, Cork City all as Fairtrade Towns/Cities, so we should be able to come up with a joint plan to host a visiting grower in a very special way..so if you have any suggestions, now is the time to tell us. Last year we hosted KoJo and Paul from Ghana who changed the lives of many in this area. Next year we'd like to do more !!

Store staff most influential force in Fairtrade

Whatever happens at HQ, the lowest paid staff in the retail world have the most direct influence on what the customer buys. It's they who actually keep the products on display; they who speak direct to their friends about what's good to buy; they who often simply override what HQ say anyway !! So we think Fairtrade needs to be better explained to shop staff.

Shops do not need 2 varieties of exactly the same product as in this irish supermarket. The space would be better used for another new Fairtrade product. This shop doesn't have the Fairtrade alternative to After Eight Mints, and its 4 weeks before Christmas !!

Retailers lack attention to detail

So Starbucks double their Fairtrade coffee purchases for next year ! Hurray...but is that even 10% of their total coffee purchases ? We would be more appreciative of efforts like Equal Exchange's fantastic range of organic Fairtrade Rooibos Teas, which are not only Fairtrade, but are processed and packed at source, so a much larger proportion of the price paid by consumers stays in the producer country. Checkout www.equalexchange.co.uk

Fairtrade is cheaper !

Wo says Fair trade is more expensive ? Have you seen the Tesco packet of 80 Fairtrade Teabags for just 28p (sterling) ? Has anyone seen them in Ireland ?

Fairtrade Xmas Present for your priest

The time for buying Christmas presents is nigh. And Fairtrade is the way to go. For those who attend a church in Ireland..why not buy your priest or rector a Fairtrade cotton clergy shirt ? check them out at http://www.fairtradeclergyshirts.com/ . Cool, stylish and a true reflection of what Xmas is all about.

And to go with that, Fairtrade Communion Wine, now available all over Ireland from Rathbornes the candle people on 01 809 8600, or sales@lalor.ie

And this week sees us beginning the process of opening up new distribution options for Fairtrade in Ireland. So if you know of any products that deserve more exposure here in Ireland, let us know.

Superquinn good SuperValu bad

You'd imagine the world's first Fairtrade Cola, tasting as good as the real thing, would be cause for celebration ? And at Superquinn it is ! UBUNTU is available in some of their stores already.

But although some SuperValus are brave enough to try it themselves, because the local owner has decided to buy it direct for him/herself, the head office has decided 'a definite NO'. Sad, but true...no reason given. Sometimes it makes you think that profit does really have priority over ethics.

Dunnes Stores NEW Fairtrade range

Dunnes Stores in Dublin - Blanchardstown, Cornelscourt, Leopardstown, Sandyford Beacon Court & Swords; Portmarnock; Newbridge; Dundalk; Tralee; Galway - Knocknacarra, Westside, Briarhill; Limerick - Jetland have launched a special new range of over 25 NEW Fairtrade drinks including teas, coffees, juices and the world's first Fairtrade Cola.

Recession is a time for making tough choices. So remember that as food prices go up, Fairtrade growers find it more difficult to buy food themselves. We only spend <20%>

Dunnes Stores earn a lot from Fairtrade

Want to know who gets most of the money from a Fairtrade product ? Try the Dunnes Stores coffee shop. These Fairtrade flapjacks cost €1.09 in the local SuperValu and Londis, but in the Dunnes Cafe they cost €2.15. The producer gets the same amount. Should this put you off Fairtrade. Absolutely NOT. But if you bought 2 flapjacks from SuperValu, went home and made your own cup of Clipper Fairtrade Tea, then MUCH more of your money would go to the growers in Malawi. Fairtrade is their only option. You and I have choices !

One Water available in Ireland

Since its success in Canada, Australia and UK, One Water has finally arrived in Ireland. The water is irish spring water so no massive carbon footprint. And its cheaper than heavily advertised brands.

Although there is no such thing as Fairtrade water, this is as good, and transparent as it gets.

100% of profits go to constructing 'play-wells' for towns and villages all over Africa. The wells are visible on google Earth. A company can have its own name on a specific well, and nothing beats the feeling you really did make a difference.

I am working to promote this rather than Bling fancy water in Superquinn for over €40 a bottle !! So if you can't afford Bling, join me. Check out One Water at http://www.onewater.org.uk/

What are SuperValu, Dunnes & Superquinn doing about this ? Meanwhile Tesco have it on sale already.

UK Fairtrade Commercial Conference

Well, Its been another excellent year for Fairtrade in the UK, with one major supermarket proving that going 100% bananas makes commercial sense ! Checkout the details, or get in touch to find out more. What else can you and your store do to take advantage of this ?

DOWNLOAD the presentations
Other keynote speakers included: Fairtrade FoundationBarbara Crowther: Communications Strategy 2008-2012David Lowbridge: Improving our OperationsMichael Nkonu: Producer support systems within FairtradeFLO CertTrevor Wood - Gearing up the global systemNatural Resources InstituteBarry Pound & Valerie Nelson: Fairtrade Impact AssessmentPricewaterhouseCoopersTeresa Fabian: Sustainability: Are consumers buying it?Henley Centre HeadlightVisionSian Davis: Sustainability, Fairtrade and the consumerA number of presentations from the day are available to download (see details below). In addition, there will be video footage of the Conference will be available on our website shortly:http://store.itsyourftp.com/~fairtrade/Commercial_Conference

Fairtrade sandwiches ?

SuperValu store owners are well into Fairtrade and the new UBUNTU Fairtrade Cola is in their store in Bandon. All credit to the store manager, because at head office they probably don't know about this yet !! We also noticed their 'buy local' sandwiches are still made 100 miles away in Waterford !! One step at a time I guess...

Fairtrade retail price discrimination

We all know that Marmite costs £2 in Northern Ireland and €3.99 in SuperValu in Dublin, but what's worse is the increase in prices of Fairtrade products like tea. Why is it that in Tesco, Lyons Gold 80 regular Tbags are only up 30c a pkt since October 2004, while Robert Roberts 80 Fairtrade Tbags are up 48c a pkt ? We suggest that's not fair.

Fairtrade New Juice

Natural Beverage company is making its range available in Ireland through Kinsale Distribution Co. Best known for its excellent Fairtrade smoothies, NatBev has a 1 ltr Orange, 50oml Orange, 500ml Apple & Mango, & 500ml Tropical. This will bring competition for Fruit Passion who's Fairtrade 1 ltr Orange juice sells in Superquinn for €2.39 v Tesco own label for €1.69. SuperValu does not yet list a Fairtrade juice.

Fairtrade for supermarket buyers and clergy alike

Supermarket buyers are less well known for keeping their word than priests & bishops, but Fairtrade caters for both more and more.

For the church there are now stylish Fairtrade clergy shirts from http://www.fairtradeclergyshirts.co.uk/

And for the supermarket there is the brilliant new range from Equal Exchange http://www.equalexchange.co.uk/ including their Organic Fairtrade Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee. Made famous in the movie Black Gold, its available in Ireland now through Kinsale Distribution Company. http://www.kdc.ie/

Great stuff, and Fairtrade Advent Calendars arriving soon too !

Why Divine chocolate is divine

For those at the far end of the chocolate value chain, there is less earned in a week than you'll earn during the time it takes to watch this video clip ! Enjoy anyway, it might make a difference.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M7Mij795KuU

Green Tea is a favourite Fairtrade purchase

Without minimum fuss, sales of Clipper Fairtrade Green Tea have risen 50% in Ireland in the last year. In part because of the quality, but also because of the wide range, and continuing hunger (or should that be thirst !) for healthy tea.

Green tea contains wacking great doses of useful antioxidants, and combined with echinacea, ginseng, lemon, or just in its pure organic, bagged or loose form, Clipper provides, and Kinsale Distribution delivers.

If you would like to try it, just ask.

Fair trade sugar grower talking direct to you

UBUNTU Fairtrade Cola is made here in Ireland. And if you have any question about the direct benefits this brings to the sugar growers in Malawi, why not check out the personal blog of Elod, one of the co-operative members, who spends every day producing the basic ingredient just for us in rich-mans-land ? Ask him how he's doing. See what he did today. Tell him what you did to help.

Go on.....be brave !!

http://www.ubuntu-trading.com/blog/

Fairtrade for the birds

And now Fairtrade for the birds !!

Gardman have just launched the first Fairtrade peanuts for wild birds. Packed in 1.5kg and 3kg bags, the nuts are sourced by Liberation Foods who are also responsible for the first Fairtrade salted nuts. launched earlier this year for humans !

The new Gardman products are available in Ireland from Groundforce who can be contacted through this blog.

Liberation's own human nuts are available in 4 varieties, including a great Lemon Chilli flavour. They too can be bought from us in Ireland.

Back from Africa

If you ever wondered what it means to work for the benefit of Fairtrade communities, see this ! This is a Fairtrade sugar producing village in Malawi 2 weeks ago when we visited ! As you can see they were keen to have us participate in their daily routines.

New Fairtrade Cola in PET bottles

UBUNTU Fairtrade cola, is now available in 500ml PET bottles, which is great for convenience stores etc. The 330ml cans are also available, and this cola is certainly the equal of the alleged real thing according to tastings we have carried out. Coca Cola are the biggest users of sugar on the planet for their drink, but it takes the likes of UBUNTU to take an ethical stance ! You can buy it here...

World Fairtrade Day ?

Most of us in Ireland would never have known 10th May was World Fairtrade Day. But then most of us don't know Fairtrade Communion Wine is now available, or that its on trial in Cork on June 7th. Fancy a taste ? Get in touch now...and why not provide your local school with Fairtrade sports balls ?

Xmas Advent Calendars already

Time moves on and shops are already thinking about Xmas. And for 2008 Divine are launching an adult only advent calendar !! Adult only because each of the 24 pieces of chocolate are 70% Dark Chocolate. These are real advent calendars with a line of the real xmas story behind each window. Stylish indeed. And there's a Milk Chocolate version too.

Fairtrade Chocolate Cake

Taoday I saw the world's first Fairtrade Organic Chocolate Cake. All ready to bake in its box after you add egg and water. Could be in trouble now...everyone will want one of these !! Doves Farm have surpassed themselves, and we are ready to distribute them all over Ireland. Sales number is 021 477 3273. Buy buy buy....

Fairtrade demand increases in Cork

The hard work of Fairtrade Town volunteers really does make a difference. Cafes, pubs, and shops are now regularly taking the initiative to switch to Fairtrade. In the last 48 hours, 5 Cork businesses have contacted Kinsale Distribution Co asking to open accounts. Sarah Fleming at Colaiste Raithin in Bray Co. Wicklow is a great example also of teams of students working in schools. They are holding a Fairtrade awareness day on April 18th. We wish them the best !

Midleton & Youghal Fairtrade Town visits

Youghal & Midleton are well on the road to Fairtrade Town status and businesses in the towns are stocking more fairtrade products, such as the Rendezvous Cafe.

Superquinn lists Fairtrade chocolate

After promising to stock Fairtrade options where they are available, Superquinn have placed their 1st order for Divine chocolate. 4 lines including the new Dark Choc with Fruit n Nuts. And to celebrate Suzanne McHugh was in store at Lucan with Kojo Aduhene & Paul Ayepah from Ghana, who grow the very cocoa that goes into Divine during Fairtrade Fortnight. They are very happy !!

Divine cocoa growers unload in Kinsale

Sometimes you can't make it on your own they say, so Kojo Aduhene & Paul Ayepah from Ghana came to help MD Ger Barry unload another delivery of their own Fairtrade cocoa, in the form of Divine chocolate, in the Kinsale Distribution warehouse. Including fresh Easter Egg supplies and samples of next Christmas seasonal products.

On average a cocoa grower in Ghana earns the same in a year as an average irish consumer spends on chocolate in the same year. €300 ! Fairtrade does make a difference.

Fairtrade meets the president

A group representing 30 Fairtrade Towns around Ireland met the president to mark Fairtrade Fortnight for the first time. A step in the right direction. Only spoiled by a puncture at the gate to Aras an Uachtarain suffered by visting growers Kojo Aduhene and Paul Ayepah from Divine chocolate in Ghana, seen here shaking slightly grubby hands !!

Fairtrade for Peanuts

The best ever organic & Fairtrade Peanut Butter made its debut in Dunnes Stores this week. The store in Ballincolig, Cork, has a special display for Fairtrade Fortnight.

Irish Fairtrade Magazine

The annual Irish Independent Fairtrade supplement was published this week. Its the best way to keep up to date with the official Fairtrade news in Ireland. This blog is the best way to get behind the scenes of course...

Checkout the on-line version of the Independent magazine at:-

http://publishing.yudu.com/A6y3h/FairTrade/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffairtrade.whitespace.ie%2F

Tesco struggle to get Fairtrade on the shelf

Tesco Ireland have over 20 stores with dedicated Fairtrade sections, but appear to be struggling to keep the products on sale. The picture is of their Mahon Point store in Cork looking distinctly empty ! This was the situation in 4 stores we visited last week, in the build up to Fairtrade Fortnight....Better things are promised just as soon as a new buyer is appointed.

Fairtrade material for teachers

Fairtrade Fortnight starts 25th Feb and with Divine cocoa growers coming to Dublin, Cork, Kinsale and elsewhere now is the time to checkout http://www.papapaa.org/ where free educational materials are available as well as the latest news about how Fairtrade benefits the 75,000 growers in Ghana, the 2nd biggest world supplier of cocoa for your chocolate bars. Do you ever check to see where your chocolate actually comes from ?

Fairtrade coffee growers talk to you live

Finally we got some coffee growers personal story for you. Listen to what they say about why should stock and sell, and buy Fairtrade produce

Fairtrade growers visit Cork, Dublin, Kinsale etc

Plans are confirmed for 2 cocoa growers from Ghana to visit Cork, Skibereen, Bantry (Mar 7th), Midleton, Youghal (Mar 8th), and Kinsale (Mar 9th). As part owners of the Divine Fairtrade chocolate company, these people are the best in the world to explain what Fairtrade means to them. Want to shake them by the hand ? Ask for more details....

Big Coffee Co loses out to Fairtrade

Douwe Egberts, owned by the giant US Sara Lee company, lost a major court case last year to a dutch local authority who wanted to specify Fairtrade supplies for their facilities. The European Court decision means it IS OK for local authorities to demand Fair trade coffee, tea, sugar, snacks etc. In Cumbria UK, the local authority already does this, and we congratulate them.

New M&S Fairtrade Chocolate

100g Fairtrade Milk Choc bar with Rose. Now that's innovative....and tastes great !

Help Kenya; buy their Fairtrade tea today

Suddenly Kenya is in turmoil; but Fairtrade makes it possible to take practical action immediately. Marks & Spencer & Robert Roberts sell Kenyan Fairtrade Teabags in Ireland.

Another chance for the half dozen all-powerful retail buyers to make a difference to our world. Let us know if you see things happening that Kenyans would be thankful for, and we might be proud of.