New Zealand has reported the fastest growth in sales of Fairtrade products in the world – a 45-fold increase in just four years.
Barry Coates, executive director Oxfam NZ, said there had been a huge increase in Fairtrade sales here, from $200,000 a year in 2004 to annual sales of about $9.13 million.
He said it was the fastest growth rate in the Fairtrade market of any country. That was partly explained by the mainstreaming of products such as coffee, tea and chocolate into supermarkets and cafes, as well as speciality stores. “They used to only be available in Trade Aid shops … now they are even served up in some government departments.”
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