Fairtrade

We’re the UK’s first and  largest Fairtrade hot drinks company.  

We’re the UK’s first  and  largest Fairtrade hot drinks company, so just by  drinking our coffee you’re having a positive impact in the world.  It’s not just about a fair price – it’s about sustainable livelihoods and better lives for whole communities.

How does Fairtrade make life better for farmers? It sets standards for the companies and farmers involved in a supply chain.  These standards are rigorously assessed and if successful they are granted Fairtrade certification.

These standards include:

  • farmers and workers’ rights
  • environmental protection, such as nature-friendly farming and protection of forests, and
  • payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price safety net and an additional Fairtrade Premium.

A closer look at coffee prices

To see this diagram in more detail, take a look at our 2023 Progress Report.

Fairtrade Minimum Price

  • A Fairtrade Minimum Price of $1.80 per lb of coffee is paid to farming cooperatives. 
  • It’s a safety net for a guaranteed price.  This is needed because farmers have no control over the widely fluctuating market price of coffee which can fall below the cost of production.
  • This price guarantee is essential for business planning and investing in farmers’ businesses.

Fairtrade Premium Price

  • An additional Premium of $0.20 per lb on top of the Fairtrade Minimum Price.
  • A quarter of the Premium is invested in coffee quality and crop yields.
  • The remainder is put towards community projects such as coffee processing equipment, schools, health provision, clean water.
To date, we have paid over £17 million in Fairtrade Premiums which has directly impacted people’s lives for the better.