Equal Exchange Trading
{{about|the UK trading cooperative|the U.S. trading cooperative|Equal Exchange}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Equal Exchange Trading Ltd
| type = Co-operative, Ltd
| foundation = Edinburgh, UK ({{Start date and age|df=yes|1990}})
| products = Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Nuts, Edible oils, Chapman's nut butters
| homepage = [http://www.equalexchange.co.uk/ www.equalexchange.co.uk]
| footnotes = Founded from the trading activities of Equal Exchange Ltd (formerly Campaign Coffee Scotland) which was founded in 1981. Origins stretch back to 1979.
| revenue = 12px£3.5 million (Draft 2007/08) |
}}
Equal Exchange Trading is a UK-based alternative trading organisation. Equal Exchange is a worker's cooperative distributing food and beverage products in the independent natural food sector. The organization's origins stretch back to 1979 "when three voluntary workers returned to Edinburgh after working on aid projects in various parts of Africa."{{cite web|url=http://www.shared-interest.com/buyer.php |title=Buyer's Story |access-date=2009-04-24 |publisher=Shared Interest Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203232029/http://shared-interest.com/buyer.php |archive-date=3 February 2009 }}
Over 90% of the company's products are both Organic and Fairtrade.
Priorities
Equal Exchange Trading insists on having its teas packed at the source so that the economic benefits of this 'value-added' activity stay in the country and region of origin.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/apr/29/foodanddrink4 |title=Darjeeling:The hottest cuppa in the world |access-date=2009-04-24 |date=2007-04-29 |publisher=guardian.co.uk | location=London | first=Joanna | last=Blythman}}
Achievements
- In 1991, together with Oxfam, Traidcraft & Twin Trading they launched Cafédirect, the UK's first mainstream Fairtrade coffee brand.{{cite book |last= Peck |first= Helen |author2=Martin Christopher |author3=Adrian Payne |author4=Moira Clark |title= Relationship Marketing: Strategy and Implementation |url= https://archive.org/details/relationshipmark00peck |url-access= limited |publisher= Butterworth-Heinemann |pages=[https://archive.org/details/relationshipmark00peck/page/n210 196]–207 |date=September 1999 |isbn= 978-0-7506-3626-1 }}
- In 1998 they launched the first honey product to carry the Fairtrade Mark.{{cite web |url=http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/what_is_fairtrade/history.aspx |title=Fairtrade Foundation: Fairtrade History |access-date=2009-04-24 |publisher=Fairtrade Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427071630/http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/what_is_fairtrade/history.aspx |archive-date=27 April 2009 |df=dmy-all }}
- In 2005 their best-selling product, Medium Roast Coffee, became top-rated by Ethiscore.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2005/oct/04/ethicalmoney.foodanddrink |title=The Ethical Shopper: Ground coffee |access-date=2009-04-24 |date=2005-10-05 |publisher=guardian.co.uk | location=London}}
- In 2006 they became the first company in the United Kingdom to sign a license agreement with Ethiopia's Intellectual Property Office to distribute its trademarked coffees.{{cite web|url=http://www.ethiopiancoffeenetwork.com/profiles/equalexchangeuk.shtml |title=Ethiopian Coffee Network |access-date=2009-04-24 |publisher=Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827212852/http://www.ethiopiancoffeenetwork.com/profiles/equalexchangeuk.shtml |archive-date=27 August 2008 |df=dmy }}
- In 2007 together with Twin Trading they helped to found Liberation Foods CIC, the UK's first and only 100% Fairtrade Nut company.{{cite web|url=http://www.chooseliberation.com/family/ |title=Liberation Nuts: Family |access-date=2009-04-24 |publisher=Liberation Foods CIC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925211847/http://www.chooseliberation.com/family/ |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}
- In 2009 they launched the world's first range Organic Fairtrade-certified Palestinian Extra Virgin Olive Oils.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/24/palestinian-olive-oil |title=Palestinian Olive Oil Bucks Uk Recession |access-date=2009-04-24 |date=2009-02-24 |publisher=guardian.co.uk | location=London | first=Mark | last=Tran}}{{cite web |url=http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/february_2009/fairtrade_olive_oil_will_offer_an_economic_lifeline_for_palestinian_farmers_2_2_2.aspx |title=Fairtrade olive oil will offer an economic lifeline for Palestinian farmers |access-date=2009-04-24 |date=2009-02-23 |publisher=Fairtrade Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503003721/http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/february_2009/fairtrade_olive_oil_will_offer_an_economic_lifeline_for_palestinian_farmers_2_2_2.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2009 |df=dmy }}
- In 2012 Equal Exchange won the Co-operatives UK "Small Co-op : Big Achiever" award at the International Co-operative Alliance EXPO
Awards
- 2005, Equal Exchange Amazon Flame Brazil Nut Oil wins Gold Great Taste Award{{cite web|url=http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/content/GreatTasteAwards/ffwawards.asp?AwardID=38 |title=Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards 2005 |access-date=2009-04-24 |publisher=The Guild of Fine Food |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722221453/http://www.finefoodworld.co.uk/content/GreatTasteAwards/ffwawards.asp?AwardID=38 |archive-date=22 July 2011 |df=dmy }}
- 2008, Equal Exchange nominated for Ethical Business of the Year at the Observer Ethical Awards{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/may/01/ethicalliving.lifeandhealth |title=Observer Ethical Awards shortlist announced |access-date=2009-04-08 |date=2008-05-01 |publisher=guardian.co.uk | location=London}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.equalexchange.co.uk Equal Exchange Trading's official website]
Category:Alternative trading organizations
Category:Food and drink companies of Scotland
Category:Worker co-operatives of the United Kingdom