Celebrating five years of Fairtrade in Guernsey

MONDOMUNDI is celebrating five years of providing the island with fairly traded products and produce.

Officially opened on 8 June 2006, by Simeon Green MBE, a representative of Fairtrade producers from the Windward Islands, Mondomundi's first shop in St Martin's at the Co-op complex has gone from strength to strength.

Guernsey was formally presented with its award of Fairtrade Island status at the same time. Managing director, Phil Soulsby expressed his pleasure on the shop's progress and the steadily growing trade supply business.

"While economic conditions have not been ideal for a new small business, we have been very fortunate in having a loyal and committed customer base that is very supportive of our goals and more importantly they love what we stock. We have a fantastic team of people who work with us, who are also passionate about making a positive difference in the retail industry," he said.

Sher Ghazi, a fairtrade fruit grower from Pakistan, officially opened the second Mondomundi outlet upstairs at Guernsey Airport during Fairtrade Fortnight 2007. Becoming the first fairtrade airport shop in Europe, Mondomundi has recently expanded to supplying their products to Mon Petit Monde, the gift shop at Sausmarez Manor.

Mondomundi provides Fairtrade tea, coffee and other catering supplies to restaurants, coffee shops, offices, schools and churches and is dedicated to all things fair trade.

"As a family company, we have always wanted to run a business that would make a positive difference to the world and be run ethically and with social justice at its core," said Mr Soulsby.

Now providing a range of handbags, scarves, jewellery along with giftware, toys and household items, Mondomundi has seen many changes in five years of business.

One of the company's highlights includes establishing the island's first domestic battery recycling scheme and the St Martin's shop remains a main deposit point for used household batteries. During the life of the scheme, more than 5 tonnes of batteries have been diverted away from landfill.

Now a significant customer for Traidcraft, Divine, Cafedirect and Namaste, Mondomundi has also brought the fairtrade ethos to the community, by hosting visits from its suppliers to help spread the message on the benefits that Fairtrade brings to the developing world.

With purchases rising by 10% each year despite the recession, Mondomundi is proud to have been included in the Traidcraft organisation's top 15 national customers list which details businesses who are continuing to grow.

"While most people are now familiar with the Fairtrade logo (over 70% of UK adults recognise it according to TNS CAPI Omnibus findings) and the main products such as tea, coffee, chocolate, not everyone realises the enormous range of high quality Fairtrade goods that are available," said Mr Soulsby.

To celebrate the business' birthday, Mondomundi will be offering free hot drinks, chocolate tasting and 10% off everything in the St Martins store until Saturday 18 June.