Wine "one of fastest growing" fairtrade products

Published: 02 September, 2008

Wine represents one of the fastest growing fair trade products in the UK, according to figures from the Fairtrade Foundation.

Wine represents one of the fastest growing fair trade products in the UK, according to figures from the Fairtrade Foundation.

Value growth of fair trade products is now at 72%, standing at £493m in 2007 compared with sales of £290m in 2006, with wine leading the way.

Fair trade wine sales are worth more than £20.7m and growth is expected to continue at 46% each year, says the Fairtrade Foundation.

News of the boost in wine sales comes on the back of the launch of the second annual Fairtrade Wine Competition, organised by the UK Fairtrade Wine Committee. The competition will take place on September 16 and more than 85 entries are expected from producers in Argentina, Chile, and South Africa - double the number last year.

Chair of the Fairtrade Wine Committee, Nick Day of Ehrmanns, said: "In organising this competition, we as a committee seek to raise the profile of fair trade, and of the quality, excellent value for money and availability of the wines. With fair trade wine sales topping £20.7m and growth expected to continue at the phenomenal rate of 46% each year, Ehrmanns predicts that fair trade will take a 3% share of the UK wine market by 2012".

Amongst this year's judging panel will be Julie Arkell, chair of the Circle of Wine-writers, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Jamie Goode, Susan McCraith MW and Michelle Smith of Sainsbury's. Winners will be announced at the Fairtrade wine tasting on November 12 at Vinopolis in London.

The UK Fairtrade Wine Committee was formed in 2006, with the aim of raising awareness of the product with consumers.

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