TORONTO, 2014-9-17— /EPR Retail News/ — Co-op was recognized for its commitment to fair trade products and awareness last week in Toronto. It is the recipient of the 2014 Canadian Fairtrade Award for Excellence in Merchandising for outstanding promotion of the fair trade system and products in Canada.
“Not only are co-operatives and fair trade different ways of doing business, but many fair trade products are produced by co-operatives,” said Ron Welke, Associate Vice-President of Food at Federated Co-operatives Limited. “Working together, Co-op and fair trade businesses are supporting local economies, helping communities here at home and abroad.”
Although selection varies by retail, Co-op has sourced over 60 fair trade products available in six categories: coffee, hot beverages, baking, cereal and ice cream. Co-op sells an organic coffee under its Co-op Gold store-brand label. Two Co-op Gold fair trade and organic chocolate bars were introduced in 2014.
Co-op held its seventh annual Fair Trade Coffee Day on May 9. Co-op also promoted awareness of fair trade and associated products in food flyers and in-store displays in May. The Co-op Gold chocolate bar was featured online and through a promotion which handed out 70,000 free products.
Co-op won the award in the large national or regional grocery chain category in 2012 and 2013. Fairtrade Canada launched the awards in 2012 to recognize Canadian retail and food service businesses committed to fair trade products.
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