Sales of Fairtrade-accredited food and drink in UK retailers rose across numerous categories last year. However, the Fairtrade Foundation has warned “growing demand needs to be matched by more businesses paying farmers properly”.
Volume sales of Fairtrade tea climbed by 35% from 2024 to 2025, according to the foundation’s annual report, while coffee rose by 7%. Flower sales climbed by 41%, while Fairtrade cocoa rose an estimated 20% and banana volumes increased by 4%.
But while “more people than ever are choosing Fairtrade”, the accreditation body said pay and conditions for growers remained challenged, particularly as farmers faced mounting climate pressures.
It comes as Fairtrade held a Together for Fair Pay event in London last week as part of Fairtrade Fortnight, which brought together around 50 decision-makers and sustainability and buying professionals.
The event asked businesses across the industry to commit to fairer pay for the farmers and workers who grow the UK’s favourite products, and to back that commitment with long-term investment in communities and supply chains.
Fairtrade cited the work of long-standing Fairtrade supporter Co-op in this area, while Lidl used the event to present its Way To Go Tea – the first tea product of its kind to pay a Fairtrade-calculated Living Income Reference Price on volumes sourced.
But it also warned “more businesses need to act” on the issue of fair pay and conditions.
“The British public can see what’s happening to our food system, and they’re right to be worried,” said Fairtrade Foundation CEO Eleanor Harrison.
“Farmers on the frontline of the climate crisis are being asked to adapt and build resilience while not being paid fairly for what they grow. That isn’t sustainable and it isn’t fair.”
Lidl and Co-op were “showing what’s possible when businesses commit to paying farmers properly for the long term – but this cannot be left to a handful of companies”, she added.
“Every retailer needs to commit to fair pay for farmers. For fairness and for our food security.”
The Together for Fair Pay event built on the Fairtrade Foundation’s wider Fair Pay Campaign, also launched during Fairtrade Fortnight 2026, which calls for fairer pay for farmers and workers and stronger UK action on responsible business practices, including Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) legislation.
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