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SPINS: Fair Trade Sales Up 24%

OAKLAND, Calif. — Sales of fair trade-certified products rose 24% to $170 million during 2010, according to SPINS data.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Sales of fair trade-certified products rose 24% to $170 million during 2010, according to SPINS data.

The growth was driven in part by conventional shoppers, with sales in mainstream channels growing faster (26%) than those of specialty (22%) and natural grocers (16%).

"The volume of growth in mainstream grocers was over three times larger than the volume of growth in the natural and specialty channels, traditionally the leading retailers of fair trade-certified products, where we continue to also see significant growth,” said Cate Baril, director of business development, grocery and ingredients, for third-party certifier Fair Trade USA, in a prepared statement.

Ready-to-drink tea and coffee saw the most significant growth (39%) because of a new commitment from Honest Tea, while coffee grew 33% due to increased variety of fair trade coffees available through a broader assortment of supermarkets.

Sweeteners rose 17%, chocolate 19% and frozen desserts 4%.

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