Retailers Marks & Spencer, Lidl, ALDI and Tesco have declared their commitment to disclose their respective percentage of Fairtrade bananas, with Marks & Spencer emerging as the strongest.
Marks & Spencer’s stock of Fairtrade bananas totalled 50% of all of their bananas, with discounter stores Lidl and Aldi placing second and third respectively, with figures of 20% and 15%. Tesco came closely behind with 14% Fairtrade bananas.
Fairtrade Ireland has also reiterated the challenge to Dunnes Stores and Musgrave to disclose the percentage of Fairtrade bananas they stock.
Fairtrade Ireland’s call on retailers to increase the percentage of Fairtrade bananas they stock has resulted in the commitment of a number of stores to stock 100% Fairtrade bananas, including The Happy Pear Organic Store and Restaurant (Greystones, Co. Wicklow), and The Fresh Market (with five stores in Dublin; Marino, Cabra, Marys Abbey, Malahide, and Artane).
Peter Gaynor, Executive Director of Fairtrade Ireland commented, “We were pleased to receive an answer from Marks and Spencer, Lidl, Aldi and Tesco Ireland, who collectively account for about 41% of Irish grocery market share - but who are responsible apparently for the sale of 87% of Fairtrade bananas.”
He added, “We are still waiting for an answer from Supervalu and Dunnes Stores who, despite dominating the Irish grocery market with virtually a combined 50% market share, only account for, (with the small symbol groups added too), a mere 13% of Fairtrade bananas sold in Ireland. These figures don't add up to much for Dunnes Stores and SuperValu in particular.”
Consumer spending on Fairtrade products in Ireland has increased by 12% from €197 million in 2013 to €221 million in 2014. Consumer spending on Fairtrade bananas represents only 5% of total consumer spending on Fairtrade products in Ireland, compared to 60% for coffee and 26% for chocolate.
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Hannah Popham.
