Sales of fair trade certified products in Spain, mostly foods, generated revenues of up to 22.3 million Euro in 2012, 11% higher than the slightly over 20 million Euro made in 2011, according to the annual report published by Fair Trade International.
Sources of the Fair Trade organization in Spain explained that, even though Spain was growing below the world average (21%), it was still a positive development, especially if one takes into account the bad economic situation facing the country.
Worldwide, sold Fair Trade labeled products have generated value for 4,802 million Euro, 21% more than the 3,953 million in 2011, excluding the US market as, last year, Fair Trade USA left the international system.
Fair Trade Spain emphasized that the Spanish consumer of fair trade food is faithful, aware and has a great interest in these products.
This has allowed companies to launch new certified products into the Spanish market because they know they’ll be received well, they added.
This curiosity and growing interest in fair trade products goes hand in hand with the increase and demand that organic foods are experiencing in Spain.
In fact, sources said, 40% of the products with the fair trade label also have organic farming certifications.
Even though the fair trade certification in Spain is only eight years old, it’s been in the Netherlands for 25 years and 20 in Germany, "43% of consumers report having seen the 'fair trade label' and 64% trust it."
Fair Trade Spain trusts that, as soon as the economic uncertainty dissipates, their growth will be higher.
"We are convinced, and the experience in other emerging markets shows us that, had it not been for the economic crisis, growth would have been 100% a year".
For the moment most of the sales of certified fair trade product in Spain correspond to coffee, followed by sweets and chocolate, they pointed out.
Distribution chains (hypermarkets and supermarkets) are the main outlets in volume, but not in terms of number of references (from 1-5) followed by herbal and organic stores, with more products, but fewer volumes.
Next in importance are the fair trade stores, where not only fair trade labeled foods are marketed but also a variety of crafts, and the foodservice channel (hotels and restaurants), where they are betting on marketing the fair trade coffees so that more people see our products, they said.
Source: EFEagro