Consumers want top tea brands to convert to Fairtrade

Food & Drink

December 17, 2009

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Consumers want top tea brands to convert to Fairtrade

LONDON - Two thirds of UK consumers either buy Fairtrade tea or would like their favourite tea brand to convert, according to a new survey commissioned by international development charity Traidcraft.

The poll, which coincides with International Tea Day, comes as the Women's Institute and Traidcraft send 20,000 postcards to the five brands that dominate the market - PG Tips, Tetleys, Twinings, Typhoo and Yorkshire Tea - calling for them to go Fairtrade.

Camilla Porter, Traidcraft head of campaigns, said: ‘The big tea brands are lagging behind popular consumer brands like Starbucks, Tate & Lyle, Cadbury's Dairy Milk and Nestlé's KitKat, which have all made a commitment to Fairtrade.

‘Right now there are 80 registered Fairtrade tea producers with spare Fairtrade tea to sell. PG Tips, Tetleys, Twinings, Typhoo and Yorkshire Tea have 72% of the market. Their commitment to Fairtrade would make a lasting difference to the lives of millions of tea workers,' she added.

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