Mainstream Consumers Drive Fair Trade Certified Sales Up 24 Percent

OAKLAND, Calif., March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fair Trade USA, the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, today reports new data to confirm that mainstream consumers are increasing their commitment to Fair Trade faster than ever. Sales of Fair Trade Certified™ products increased 24 percent at grocery stores during 2010.

Today, consumers can find Fair Trade products in every aisle of the supermarket. Due to this broad availability, driven by more than 700 companies offering Fair Trade Certified products, more mainstream American consumers are becoming Fair Trade converts. The 2010 data from SPINS, the first company to offer Fair Trade sales data across natural, specialty and mainstream channels, indicates that sales of Fair Trade Certified products at mainstream channels grew faster (26%) than those of specialty grocers (22%) and natural grocers (16%).

"We are encouraged by the fact that in spite of the economic recession, consumers everywhere are embracing the idea that every purchase matters," said Cate Baril, Director of Business Development, Grocery and Ingredients. "We continue to see strong, double digit growth in the natural and specialty channels.  And we see even stronger growth in supermarkets where sales are up 26 percent, as more stores are adding a greater variety of Fair Trade Certified products and increasing selection for consumers."

The data shows that American consumers have thrown their plastic bags away, filling their reusable totes to the brim with Fair Trade Certified products:

• Coffee, the flagship Fair Trade category, grew 33 percent, due to the increased variety of Fair Trade coffees available through a broader assortment of retail supermarkets.
• Ready to Drink Tea & Coffee, fueled by new commitments from Honest Tea and healthy growth from Adina Coffee, were up 39 percent.
• In Sweeteners, sweet toothed Fair Trade supporters indulged in Wholesome Sweeteners among others, driving an increase of 17 percent.
• On a couple of additional sweet notes, Frozen Desserts increased four percent and Chocolate rose 19 percent.
• Moreover, a growing desire to put Fair Trade on the inside and the outside led Aromatherapy & Body Oils Body Care to increase 19 percent and Skin Care/Body Care by 32 percent.

SPINS (www.spins.com) is the first company to offer Natural Products sales data to the industry. Established in 1995, SPINS is now the premier provider of industry reporting and consulting services for this rapidly expanding sector. SPINS' comprehensive offering includes retail measurement services, content-based reporting, consumer information and consulting services.

Fair Trade USA (previously TransFair USA), a nonprofit organization, is the leading third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States. Fair Trade USA audits and certifies transactions between U.S. companies and their international suppliers to guarantee that the farmers and workers producing Fair Trade Certified goods were paid fair prices and wages, work in safe conditions, protect the environment, and receive community development funds to empower and uplift their communities. Fair Trade USA educates consumers, brings new manufacturers and retailers into the Fair Trade system, and provides farming communities with tools, training and resources to thrive as international businesspeople. Visit www.FairTradeUSA.org for more information.

SOURCE Fair Trade USA