The first Sainsbury's Fair Development Fund products hit the shelves
It's now been a year since we launched out Fair Development Fund and to mark this we're selling the first food from producers in developing countries who applied for a grant twelve months ago.
One such fund initiative was the investment of huskers and shelling equipment for nut producer in Malawi, improving the quality of the product and increasing efficiency. As a result of this, Fairtrade blanched peanuts and raisins are now launching instore.
Sainsbury’s launches Fair Development Fund to help make the difference in developing countries
Sainsbury’s have launched a special fund to enable more farmers and growers in the developing world to sell their produce as Fairtrade.
‘The Sainsbury’s Fair Development Fund’, which will be kick-started with an initial commitment from Sainsbury’s of £1 million, will be used to support a number of Fairtrade initiatives over a four-year period.
The fund is hoped to provide a major boost to the livelihoods of producers, especially in Africa, who are not yet participating in the Fairtrade system, and through this grant will be supported in entering the Fairtrade system.
The unique fund, which will be run by Comic Relief, and financed by Sainsbury’s, aims to create a broader and more collaborative way of supporting Fairtrade. A major aim of the fund is to enable producers in some of the poorest developing countries, to meet the Fairtrade standards so they can start selling internationally on fairer terms. The fund will help in developing sustainable solutions through new Fairtrade initiatives.
The Sainsbury’s Fair Development Fund will concentrate on enabling farmers to find new routes to market that give them a better deal. The fund also means more of the world’s disadvantaged/marginalised producer communities will have the opportunity to receive the benefits Fairtrade can offer, such as a social premium to invest in long term benefits such as education and health.
Some of the initial projects being considered include:
enabling farmers in rural Uganda to come together to supply dried fruits to an export market
setting up a credit fund which will help small-scale peanut farmers in Malawi to buy seeds or machinery to improve production and raise their income
Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief believe that together more progress can be made towards alleviating poverty in developing countries through Fairtrade. There is no additional cost to Sainsbury’s customers, and selected project grants will be managed by Comic Relief, with advice from the Fairtrade Foundation and other organisations and expert specialists. Sainsbury’s can also help to get growers goods to market and ultimately on to shelves.
Justin King, chief executive, Sainsbury’s, said: “By working together on this scale, the new fund will help to dramatically extend the benefits Fairtrade creates to more farmers and workers in new areas, which have previously not been Fairtrade accredited.
“I’ve witnessed some of the Fairtrade projects created from customers buying our Fairtrade bananas, so know what a difference it can make. The fund will overcome barriers for poor producers enabling them to trade and therefore improve their livelihoods. This is why we’re supporting Fairtrade on an additional level, and encouraging our customers to support the Fairtrade label so they too can help communities in developing countries.”
Richard Graham, Head of International Grants, Comic Relief, said: “Comic Relief has a history of commitment to Fairtrade through initiatives such as Dubble and grants to Fairtrade producers across Africa. We have also had a long-standing relationship with Sainsbury’s. The Fair Development Fund allows us to combine our expertise in supporting Fairtrade initiatives, with Sainsbury’s access to customers to achieve real lasting social change.”
Harriet Lamb, chief executive, The Fairtrade Foundation, said: “Too many smallholder groups, especially in Africa, want to support themselves by selling their products as Fairtrade but they need assistance to get started. This fund will help fill that gap – by supporting farmers’ groups to meet Fairtrade standards or improve the quality of their crops. So we welcome the opportunities this will create for farmers – and the serious commitment shown by Sainsbury’s investment in the long-term future of Fairtrade. With Comic Relief’s development expertise, these grants should enable more and more farmers to take the steps to make their own dreams come true.”
Sainsbury’s has a long-standing relationship with Comic Relief and has raised £30 million for Comic Relief since 1999, with further support pledged over the next four years.
Sainsbury’s has sold Fairtrade goods since 1994 helping countries from Kenya and Costa Rica to the Windward Islands in the Caribbean. Sainsbury’s increased commitment to Fairtrade will mean that more growers, farmers and communities in developing countries will have the opportunity to benefit from involvement in Fairtrade.
The last 13 years have already generated far-reaching results in terms of a social premium for Fairtrade communities across the world. Through sales of goods carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark, Sainsbury’s shoppers have supported farmers’ groups in improving their communities in many ways, including improving the education of thousands of school children; building health and social care for workers and their families, community infrastructures including roads, bridges, lighting and wells. Sainsbury’s has also made a pledge to grow Fairtrade sales 145% to £130 million in 2007 and to increase to £200 million by 2008.
