MEDIA RELEASE

July 17th 2008

Growing Australia’s Fair Trade In Coffee

The volume of ethically sourced coffee imported into Australia will jump by more than 15% over the next year thanks to Wild Bean Café, one of the country’s key coffee retailers, Fairtrade Labelling Australia & New Zealand announced today.

An on-the-road café concept located at BP service stations, Wild Bean Café has decided to ensure that every coffee on its menu is made using 100% Fairtrade Certified coffee beans.

With more than 100 outlets across the country, this decision is a first for a national café retailer in Australia.

In 2007 Australian imports of Fairtrade Certified coffee beans topped 640 tonnes, and as a result of the move by Wild Bean Café this will grow by an additional 100 tonnes annually.

The growing commitment to Fairtrade coffee in Australia will help provide stable prices, suitable working conditions, local sustainability, ongoing investment for development and fair terms of trade for the producers and communities from a range of developing countries in Africa and South America.

Fairtrade’s Executive Director, Stephen Knapp welcomed the move by Wild Bean Café and commended the coffee retailer for its leadership in growing Australia’s involvement in the responsible trade of coffee.  

“This commitment by Wild Bean Café is a big deal for producers. The company’s decision gives farmers the ability to plan and invest for the future, knowing they will be receiving at least the Fairtrade minimum price for their coffee.

“Wild Bean Café’s investment also means a new pool of resources for small farmer organisations to invest in social, environmental and economic development projects, such as improving crop quality or land use and enhancing educational opportunities for their children.”

Wild Bean Café spokesperson, Peri Hunter, said that the coffee retailer’s move to Fairtrade was an example of how business can deliver great outcomes for both the community and its customers.

“By selling coffee made only with Fairtrade Certified coffee beans we are providing consumers with great tasting coffee as well as the opportunity to help us deliver a better quality of life for people in some of the world’s poorest countries,” she said.

ENDS

Download the full media release here.

Watch a short clip about the switch here.