The fair trade market in the specialist organic retail sector is worth €266.7 million euros, i.e. just over 11.9% of products with a barcode on the specialist organic market.[1]
While fair trade once applied to very specific ingredients, such as chocolate or sugar, it is now well represented in numerous departments, in particular fresh and chilled.
Labels (Fairtrade Max Havelaar, Bio Partenaire, Fair for Life, Agri Éthique France, Bio Équitable en France, etc.) are an advantage and can complement local sourcing: although some products come from far away, they allow people to make a decent living through their work while protecting biodiversity thanks to strict specifications.
And that is not incompatible with local sourcing! Nearly 1,500 “Origine France” fair trade products were marketed in 2023, of which 81% organic.[2]
Max Havelaar will be at Natexpo Lyon 2024 to promote the Fairtrade Max Havelaar label in France and their missions to raise awareness about fair trade. Don’t miss them!
Among the brands attending, Arcadie will be presenting its wide range of spices, aromatic and medicinal plants, dried vegetables, flavours and additives, and crystallised candied fruits. Arcadie represented 3% of fair trade label products with EAN code in 2023.[3] Their new project is to build their own sailing boat to transport their spices from Madagascar with the creation of Windcoop, the first maritime cooperative for the sail-powered transport of goods. Construction of the first sail-powered cargo ship will begin in 2024.
La Maison du Coco proposes the first 100% plant-based, light and creamy ice cream made from fresh coconut milk. The company distributes and imports organic and fair trade products. Their retail range recently updated its visual signature for a premium look.
La Route des Comptoirs is an importer, processor, packager and distributor of organically-certified teas and infusions. The brand brings together over 120 organically-certified (Ecocert) and fair trade (Max Havelaar) teas and infusions: green, black, spiced, rooibos, hibiscus, Mate. They are available in loose format too.
Les Cafés Dagobert presents the only French roasting process to be Demeter-certified, 100% organic and 100% fair trade under the Fair For Life and Max Havelaar labels, for a coffee roasted in the traditional way and with respect for the environment.
Les Jardins de Gaïa have imported organically-certified teas and herbal teas for 11 years. They have long-standing partnerships with suppliers, which are French or European insofar as possible. Their teas have the Max Havelaar label.
L’Herbier du Diois has been a supplier and wholesale processor of aromatic and medicinal plants, teas and spices from organic farming for nearly 40 years. The company maintains lasting and mutually supportive relationships with their producers and now has over 1,000 customers worldwide. The company holds many certifications (AB, Demeter, Fair for Life, JAS, BIOSuisse, etc.) and also proposes customised cuts, blends, etc.
[1] Source: Bio Linéaires
[2] Source: Bio Linéaires
[3] Source: Bio Linéaires