It's been more than 3 years since we launched our Fair Development Fund, which has helped get more products
on our shelves from smallholder farmers in developing countries. Check out the delicious dried pineapple
and banana coins from Uganda and Fairtrade blanched peanuts and raisins from Malawi.
Our commitment of £1 million
The Sainsbury’s Fair Development Fund was kick-started with an initial commitment of £1 million from us and is being used to
support a number of Fairtrade initiatives over a four-year period.
The unique fund, which is run by Comic Relief and financed by Sainsbury’s, aims to create a
broader and more collaborative way of supporting Fairtrade. It’s helping to enable producers
in some of the poorest developing countries to meet Fairtrade standards so they can start
selling internationally on fairer terms. It’s also helping to develop sustainable solutions through
new Fairtrade initiatives.
More of the world’s disadvantaged/marginalised producer communities will have the opportunity
to receive the benefits Fairtrade can offer, such as a Fairtrade premium to invest in long term
benefits such as education and health.
Justin King, Sainsbury’s Chief Executive 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.”
