CO-OP Extends Fairtrade Roses Commitment In Retail First

Co-op has become the first UK retailer to move its entire range of fresh cut roses to be 100% Fairtrade, in a major milestone marking the 30th year anniversary of the Fairtrade mark.  

The leading convenience retailer is the largest seller of Fairtrade flowers in the UK, selling more than 71 million Fairtrade stems in 2023.  The roses, which are sourced from Fairtrade farms from Kenya and Ecuador reaffirm Co-op’s commitment to Fairtrade, alongside an ongoing dedication to high quality, premium flowers. 

In celebration of Fairtrade’s 30th anniversary, a new bright and striking packaging redesign featuring the message “a whole bunch fairer” has been rolled out across Co-op’s Fairtrade Roses (£5.50); Rose Posy (£3.00) and Rose & Lily (£6.00) offer as part of the conversion to 100% too – designed to highlight the impact of Fairtrade.

Sales from Co-op’s Fairtrade roses help fund social and community projects across the globe through the Inua Dada programme, which is run by Co-op and their cut flower supplier Flamingo. This includes a diversity and inclusion programme in Kenya, which aims to empower and support nearly 5,000 female flower farm workers, focussing on training, enhancing economic empowerment, confidence and visibility of women.

Victoria Dallas, Co-op’s Horticulture Buyer, said: “Supporting Fairtrade remains as important to our member owners, customers and to us today as it did when it first began 30 years ago and with Fairtrade communities at the frontline of the climate crisis struggling with the impacts of the unpredictable weather, we’re proud to be continuing to pioneer fairer terms for the flower producers with our latest announcement.”

Kerrina Thorogood, Partnerships Director for the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “We are thrilled Co-op’s roses range is now 100 per cent Fairtrade and congratulate them on becoming the first major retailer to achieve this. Customers can now be sure that every beautiful rose bought from a Co-op store has been grown on a farm where workers enjoy better safety standards and working conditions with optimised water use and sustainable farming techniques. What better way to celebrate 30 years of Fairtrade than with a bunch of Fairtrade roses to brighten up your home!”

In 2012, Co-op first converted all own-brand standard bunches and single stem roses to Fairtrade and moved to sourcing all the African roses for all bouquets of Co-op flowers on Fairtrade terms in 2018.

Co-op’s Fairtrade Luxury Rose Bouquet (£15.00) has also been improved with the introduction of spray roses and asparagus fern, whilst two new mixed premium 100% Fairtrade bouquets have also been added to the range priced at £10.00 (Fairtrade Elegance Bouquet).

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