Fairtrade - Cafédirect

We’re the UK’s first and largest Fairtrade hot drinks company, so just by drinking our coffee you’re having a positive impact in the world. It’s not just about a fair price – it’s about sustainable livelihoods and better lives for whole communities.

How does Fairtrade make life better for farmers? It sets standards for the companies and farmers involved in a supply chain. These standards are rigorously assessed and if successful they are granted Fairtrade certification.

These standards include:

farmers and workers’ rights
environmental protection, such as nature-friendly farming and protection of forests, and
payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price safety net and an additional Fairtrade Premium.

A closer look at coffee prices

Fairtrade Minimum Price

A Fairtrade Minimum Price of $1.80 per lb of coffee is paid to farming cooperatives.
It’s a safety net for a guaranteed price. This is needed because farmers have no control over the widely fluctuating market price of coffee which can fall below the cost of production.
This price guarantee is essential for business planning and investing in farmers’ businesses.

Fairtrade Premium Price

An additional Premium of $0.20 per lb on top of the Fairtrade Minimum Price.
A quarter of the Premium is invested in coffee quality and crop yields.
The remainder is put towards community projects such as coffee processing equipment, schools, health provision, clean water.

To date, we have paid over £21 million in Fairtrade Premiums which has directly impacted people’s lives for the better.