A leading figure at fair trade pioneer Traidcraft has launched a blistering attack on Tesco in the run-up to the sector’s annual jamboree.
The Fairtrade Foundation this week revealed that Britain had overtaken Switzerland to become the biggest fair trade market in the world. The exact figures will be announced at the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight on February 28 but are expected to top £130m.
However, Stuart Palmer, marketing director at Traidcraft, claimed the retailer had taken an amoral approach to fair trade and was not doing enough to educate customers about why fair trade was worthwhile.
“Tesco stocks fair trade products because it is responding to marketing data that says its customers want it and it doesn’t go any deeper than that,” said Palmer. “If consumers don’t develop a greater understanding of what fair trade is about, then there is a danger that they will get bored and move onto the next craze.”
A spokesman for Tesco said: “Tesco offers customers the largest range of fair trade products anywhere in the UK.”
The Fairtrade Foundation this week revealed that Britain had overtaken Switzerland to become the biggest fair trade market in the world. The exact figures will be announced at the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight on February 28 but are expected to top £130m.
However, Stuart Palmer, marketing director at Traidcraft, claimed the retailer had taken an amoral approach to fair trade and was not doing enough to educate customers about why fair trade was worthwhile.
“Tesco stocks fair trade products because it is responding to marketing data that says its customers want it and it doesn’t go any deeper than that,” said Palmer. “If consumers don’t develop a greater understanding of what fair trade is about, then there is a danger that they will get bored and move onto the next craze.”
A spokesman for Tesco said: “Tesco offers customers the largest range of fair trade products anywhere in the UK.”
No comments yet