Kiwi consumers love to play fair. In a recent Colmar Brunton survey 69 per cent of respondents stated they are more likely to buy a product if it is Fairtrade. The good news for the industry is that we’re now very well placed to cater for these ethically minded customers beyond their daily coffee fix.

Of those taking part in the Fairtrade survey, 72 per cent stated the reason for their purchase was a desire to ensure growers and their communities in developing countries receive a fair price for their products. The good news for them is that the ever-expanding availability means that thousands more of these small-scale farmers, workers and their families are empowered to trade their way out of poverty by selling through the global Fairtrade system. As well as the fair price, they receive the extra Fairtrade Premium to invest democratically in social, environmental and economic development projects like river purification, crop nurseries, and road and school building to secure a more sustainable future for whole communities. In your business you can help make all of this happen.

The range of high quality and award winning Fairtrade Certified™ coffees from New Zealand roasters is growing, and Fairtrade tea, hot chocolate and sugar sticks add to the choice in cafes and other outlets. Now the range and availability of Fairtrade Certified™ white and raw sugars from Natural Sugars (NZ) Ltd, is opening up doors for an exciting new range of baked goods and other sweet treats from entrepreneurial companies keen to get creative and play their part in creating a better life for growers.

Availability reaches new heights

We might still have a long way to go to catch up with the 4500 Fairtrade products available in the UK, but with Fairtrade sugar, cocoa, chocolate, and bananas alone there’s great potential to offer another unique selling point and the ideal accompaniment to the Fairtrade flat white with muffins, banana breads, chocolate cake, home-made banana ice cream etc.

Fairtrade treats have literally gone sky high! Air New Zealand’s Trans-Tasman in-flight catering now includes Fairtrade banana bread from Kokako. The sky might not be quite the limit yet, but there is plenty of scope. With more new ingredients like vanilla and chocolate couverture coming on stream soon things are looking up for Kiwi businesses eager to please consumers with a sweet tooth and a sweet conscience.

Ask Fairtrade ANZ how you can expand into the ultimate ethical choice by selling Fairtrade Certified™ products and using Fairtrade ingredients. Contact: business@fairtrade.org.nz www.fairtrade.org.nz