Leicester fair trade shoppers helping world’s poorest producers

29 October 2009

Douglas Alexander today visited Leicester city centre to officially mark the re-location of an award-winning fair trade shop.

The International Development Secretary praised Leicester’s commitment to fair trade and congratulated the staff of Just… fair trade for their efforts to help farmers and producers out of poverty.

Just… fair trade, formally located on Bishop Street, Town Hall Square, has moved to St Martin’s Square, on the corner with Silver Street. The city centre shop claims to offer its customers, ‘the largest range of fair trade products in the Midlands,’ including, bags, jewellery, soft furnishings and food.

Douglas Alexander marked the shop move with a ribbon-cutting which took place at 1pm to officially mark the shop’s re-location.

In 2000 the shop became a member of The British Association for Fair Trade Shops and since then has helped to promote fair trade to schools, businesses and voluntary organisations across the county.

Douglas Alexander said:

“It is a pleasure to meet the individuals who are so passionately committed to fair trade. That passion is reflected in the fact that the majority of the staff here offer their services on a voluntary basis and also have a common belief in the strength of the co-operative.

“Last month I announced £12m of funding for the Fairtrade Foundation so that shops such as Just… fair trade can build on the success of the past decade by further increasing their range of products.

“Fair trade is vital if we are going to help producers in poor countries out of poverty and so I congratulate not only the people who work here but also shoppers from across Leicestershire. They are making a difference in the developing world through the choices they make on the high street.”

Sarah Shepherd, founder and managing director of Just…fair trade added: 

“The people of Leicester that have supported us for many years and I am delighted that their custom and our hard work has been acknowledged today by Douglas Alexander.

 “DFID's support for fair trade and their recognition that it is one of the many important solutions in order to address poverty in the developing world is very much a reflection of all we believe in here at the shop.

“I spent two and a half years living and working in Tanzania and saw the transformation that fair trade gave to the people there. It is so much better than charity because if you are paying someone a wage it means that you are treating them with respect.”