Latest News from the Sector
Llandudno café records stirring victory in Fair Trade cuppa poll!
It’s official! Coffee Culture in Llandudno is the Welsh public’s favourite place to go for a Fair Trade cuppa.
A total of 603 votes saw the town centre coffee shop take the award. Its sister café in Swansea, also known as Coffee Culture came second. The Red Café Community Project in Swansea took third, with the Herb Garden Café of Llandrindod Wells and Cardiff’s Embassy Café close behind.
Situated in Waterstone’s bookstore in the heart of the North Wales town, Coffee Culture serves a range of Fair Trade and organic drinks to its customers, using local suppliers to support the town’s economy.
Managing Director, Barry Mortlock says: “We were overwhelmed by how many customers wanted to vote for us. It proves how much emphasis the Welsh people place on Fair Trade. I think our customers really value this and we try to serve a great cuppa experience time and time again. As a successful business, Fair trade is an important part of our range and I encourage other businesses to take it on board.”
The search for Wales’ favourite Fair Trade cuppa has been run by the Wales Co-operative Centre during the last four weeks, reaching its conclusion halfway through Fairtrade Fortnight, which this year has ‘tea’ as its theme. The Centre has received five times as many online and postal votes as it did for last year’s poll, indicating that more people are taking an active interest in Fair Trade.
Elizabeth Hudson from the Wales Co-operative Centre, organiser of the vote, says “It’s great to see so many ethically-minded customers supporting their favourite local cafes and businesses are clearly taking this title seriously.”
Environment Minister Jane Davidson said: "I am delighted that more 1300 people from across Wales have shown their support for Fair Trade by voting.
"This event demonstrates how much support there is throughout Wales for Fair Trade and I hope it will encourage more Welsh businesses to consider switching to Fair Trade products.
"We can all play our part in supporting some of the poorest farmers and producers in the world to trade their way out of poverty, by switching to Fair Trade tea and coffee. It´s a simple step that can make a real difference."
For more details on the Fair Trade cuppa poll, go online at http://www.walescoop.com/favourite-fair-trade-cuppa/.
26 Feb 2010