First supermarket to sell Fairtrade sugar
We launched Fairtrade bagged sugar in 2005 - the first supermarket to sell Fairtrade sugar and now all our branded sugar is Fairtrade.
We have done this because sugar is one of the most significant examples of unfair trade rules both in terms of exporting and importing:
Export - African producers are penalised heavily by quota and tariff systems when exporting to the EU.
Import - Europe often dumps its own surplus into Africa so making it hard for growers to compete in their own domestic markets.
Sugar is used as an ingredient in many other products and we continue to assist African producers through the unfair system.
Kasinthula producers: sweet success in Malawi
From the introduction of Fairtrade sugar into The Co-operative Food business, we have been supplied by the Kasinthula Cane Growers Association (KCGA) in Malawi. By buying our Fairtrade sugar, our customers have helped provide life’s basics- housing, electricity and water- to thousands of the poorest people in the world.
Further Investment.
Through a community investment contribution of £285,000 over three years, from 2009, we are helping to support the Kasinthula Cane Growers Association and their communities: in total some 10,000 individuals.
The Co-operative, via Concern Universal, is providing boreholes and latrines for use by over 1,000 households and two schools, and supporting the planting of over 100,000 trees.
The contribution will also fund an initial supply of low-cost, fuel-efficient stoves, and provide support to develop a network to manufacture and sell stoves; benefits that are above and beyond those achieved through the Fairtrade premium.
During 2009 21 boreholes were constructed or repaired, construction of sanitation facilities commenced and over 1,300 adults and school pupils received hygiene education.
Factfile : Did you know?
Before borehole pumps were installed in the villages around Kasinthula, people had to walk up to five hours to collect river water before the same walk back with buckets of water weighing 25kg on their heads.
