Chocolate boosts Australian Fairtrade sales

Australia continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing markets for Fairtrade Certified goods with chocolate replacing coffee as the country’s biggest selling Fairtrade product.

Sales of general Fairtrade products have tripled in just 12 months to over $120 million in 2010, according to Fairtrade ANZ (Australia & New Zealand).

Fairtrade ANZ CEO Stephen Knapp says the outstanding sales growth was matched by a significant jump in Australian consumer awareness of the Fairtrade Label – rising from 23% in September 2009 to 37% in November 2010, based on studies from research agency Mobium Group.

“Across the country, more and more Aussie shoppers and businesses are making the swap to Fairtrade Certified products in the knowledge that they are helping developing country farmers and workers build a better future for their families and communities,” Knapp says

He adds, “Making the swap to Fairtrade became even easier for Aussies in the last year with the number of Australian businesses licensed to use the Fairtrade Label on their products rising to almost 200, plus the range of Fairtrade Certified products available from major supermarkets and retailers continues to grow. 2010 also saw chocolate replace coffee as Australia’s biggest selling Fairtrade Certified product with sales soaring by over 1500% thanks in part to the introduction in 2010 of new Fairtrade Certified blocks from Cadbury, Alter Eco and ALDI.”