Most of the time blog events I attend are beauty product launches, brand introductions, food reviews etc, I rarely go to events that have more substance to them, and recently I went to an event put on by Fairtrade and Greggs and I left the event feeling inspired to make better decisions. A common theme to most of the things i’ve started this year so far have been ‘be a better person’ and to make better decisions. Whether thats making sure I choose cruelty free beauty brands, making sure I opt for local produce and organic meat etc. Being more aware of where things come from and what they go through. After learning from Julia and the Fairtrade Press team just what Fairtrade means to them and those that have been helped, it really touched me. I find that in everyday life we don’t take much notice in our conscious decisions when purchasing everyday items such as chocolate and coffee, but by consciously picking up products and buying coffee that is Fairtrade you’re doing a good thing.
In 2015 UK Fairtrade coffee sales increased by 11% in volume, generating an estimated £4.8m in Fairtrade premium for farmers and workers, which is really quite a staggering stat, and even more reason to try and choose fairtrade products when you can. More than 1.65 million farmers and workers in 74 countries are part of Fairtrade Foundation. Over 400 companies are licensed to use the Fairtrade mark on products in the UK, including products from M&S, Sainsburys, Greggs, Divine, Green & Blacks, Co-Op, Waitrose – there are even some beauty brands, such as Boots Extracts range which is Fairtrade. There is always a chance to choose Fairtrade. Also Divine chocolate and Chocolate and Love chocolate are like DELISH.
The event was super intimate as there were only about 10 of us bloggers at the event, and a lot of amazing staff from the PR company, Greggs and Fairtrade. The event was hosted in The Archer room at the Ham Yard Hotel which was a lovely venue. I arrived and was given an espresso martini and had a little mingle with some of the girls before sitting down at the gorgeous table to learn some more about the evening ahead. Each of us had a place setting and we all had a gorgeous goody bag as well as a personalised coffee cup, lovely notebook, and a chalk board and info pack. The evening was really fun with a mixture of activities such as a cocktail masterclass, coffee tasting, and of course guessing the brand behind the under coffee event. After the big reveal we found out that the brand behind the Fairtrade coffee we had been sampling all evening was in fact Greggs coffee! Greggs actually have a pretty extensive range of 100% Fairtrade hot drinks, including the Flat White, Espresso, Cappuccino and Latte, all made with semi-skimmed milk and now also available with a vanilla flavoured syrup. They really take great pride in sourcing and making freshly ground coffee. From the farmers who grow the finest Arabica and Robusta beans, to the buyers who only source 100% Fairtrade coffee. From roasters who create a unique, smooth blend that’s full of flavour, to our shop teams who freshly grind the beans for every single customer – so you can expect the great taste of fresh coffee in every single cup. In the last decade farmers have invested £1 million from Greggs Fairtrade coffee sales in their farms and communities demonstrating that Fairtrade is really helping communities and livelihoods.
Fairtrade fortnight runs from the 27th February-12th March and if you can, choose and discover Fairtrade!
Sophie xx