Dutch retailer Coop is to only sell Fairtrade-certified bananas in its stores, in a move that, it says, will make a difference for banana producers in Ecuador.
"Bananas are the most-eaten exotic fruit in the Netherlands, but various international studies show that low banana prices cause abuses in the sector," said Coop's senior category manager of fresh, Maarten van 't Hof.
"Moreover, our customers' demand for honest products and transparency in the supply chain is growing," he added.
Max Havelaar Foundation
Coop added that it is working with the Max Havelaar Foundation, which is responsible for the Fairtrade label in the Netherlands, on projects that will help to improve the situation for banana producers.
"We wholeheartedly welcome Coop's step," said Peter d'Angremond, director of the Max Havelaar Foundation. "Our banana campaign has shown that a large proportion of Dutch consumers want their supermarket to sell honestly traded bananas. Coop customers are being served this."
Earlier this year, Coop announced that all its organic bananas and children's bananas would be Fairtrade certified, and it is now extending this to its entire range.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Stephen Wynne-Jones. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
