Specialty retailers question Fairtrade model as UK sales slide
As UK sales of Fairtrade goods fell for the first time in 20 years, reports claim the scheme is overly focused on minimum price as opposed to quality, pushing gourmet manufacturers to enact own initiatives. While the slide of almost 4%, following years of double-digit growth, is mainly attributed to UK's shrinking shopping budget, some critics claim the Fairtrade model doesn't reward quality. Upscale suppliers believe their trade is already fairer than Fairtrade, since prices paid for specialty goods are several times higher, creating an initiative for farmers to compete on quality rather than lowest price. Furthermore, Fairtrade reportedly doesnt provide farmers with any greater guarantee of future income, since it sets a minimum price but not a minimum size of order.