Promoting fairtrade

Fair Trade is one of our core values. Many people in poor countries are paid a pittance for their produce and often work in appalling conditions. The prices they are paid for their coffee beans and crafts is a fraction of the final price on the shop shelf.

The bigger picture is that the third world has lost out in the globalisation of trade and finance. Millions of people are living in poverty.

Fair trade is not the only answer. But it does give producers a secure and fair income for their produce, and the opportunity to pay for health care, education, food and become self-reliant. Shops selling fairly traded products opened in the West in the 1970s and we aim to broaden the market for fairly traded food and crafts in Britain.

What's in a label?
As Fair Trade moves towards the mainstream, with more products appearing in the major supermarkets, and more companies making fair trade claims, how can we judge which products actually benefit communities overseas?

Food and drink - We also stock food and drinks: from tea, juices, coffee and chocolate to honey, dried fruit, herbs and spices.

Crafts - We stock crafts, ceramics and paper products from around the world. Our suppliers include Traidcraft and One Village.

Look out for the Fairtrade Mark from the Fairtrade Foundation on some of our products. It's a guarantee that producers receive a fair deal.