Equal Exchange Trading facts for kids
| Co-operative, Ltd | |
| Founded | Edinburgh, UK (1990) |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, UK |
| Products | Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Nuts, Edible oils, Chapman's nut butters |
| Revenue |  £3.5 million (Draft 2007/08) |
| Footnotes / references Founded from the trading activities of Equal Exchange Ltd (formerly Campaign Coffee Scotland) which was founded in 1981. Origins stretch back to 1979. |
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Equal Exchange Trading is a special company in the UK. It is known as an "alternative trading organisation." This means they work to make trade fairer for everyone, especially farmers and workers.
Equal Exchange is a "worker's cooperative." This means the people who work there also own and run the company. They sell food and drinks, like coffee, tea, and nuts. Most of their products go to natural food stores.
The company started way back in 1979. Three people came back to Edinburgh, Scotland, after helping with projects in Africa. They wanted to keep helping people through fair trade. More than 90% of their products are both organic and Fairtrade. This means they are grown naturally and bought from farmers at a fair price.
How Equal Exchange Helps
Equal Exchange wants to make sure that the countries where their products come from get the most benefit. For example, they make sure their teas are packed right where they are grown. This helps create jobs and keeps more money in those local communities. It adds "value" to the product in its home country.
Big Moments for Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange has achieved many important things over the years:
- In 1991, they worked with other groups like Oxfam and Traidcraft. Together, they launched Cafédirect. This was the UK's first big Fairtrade coffee brand.
- In 1998, they introduced the first honey product to have the Fairtrade Mark. This mark shows that the product meets Fairtrade standards.
- In 2005, their most popular product, Medium Roast Coffee, was rated as top-quality by Ethiscore.
- In 2006, they became the first UK company to sign a special agreement with Ethiopia. This allowed them to sell Ethiopia's trademarked coffees.
- In 2007, they helped start Liberation Foods CIC with Twin Trading. This was the UK's first company that sold only 100% Fairtrade nuts.
- In 2009, they launched the world's first organic and Fairtrade-certified olive oils from the Palestinian territories.
- In 2012, Equal Exchange won an award from Co-operatives UK. It was called the "Small Co-op : Big Achiever" award. This showed how much a smaller cooperative could achieve.
Awards and Recognition
Equal Exchange has also received awards for its products and ethical business practices:
- In 2005, their Amazon Flame Brazil Nut Oil won a Gold Great Taste Award. This award recognizes delicious food and drink.
- In 2008, Equal Exchange was nominated for Ethical Business of the Year. This was at the Observer Ethical Awards, which celebrate companies that do good.
