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 ?