Fair trade aims at improving the work and living conditions of disadvantaged producers - mostly
farmers and plantation workers - in Asia, Africa and Latin America, strengthening the domestic economy of developing countries and reducing unfair economic structures worldwide.

In this context fair means among others:

• Trading directly with producers without intermediaries
• Paying fixed minimum prices above world market standards 
• Long-term trade relationships
• Banning use of child and forced labour
• Active support of self-help and educational measures

Promotion of ecologically friendly cultivation methods
Ever since the TransFair seal - a seal for fair trade with high credibility - was introduced to Germany, Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH has been offering products carrying this seal in its food and confectionery departments. 

The range of fair trade products includes, for example, coffee, tea, cocoa, honey, chocolate, pasta, rice, bananas and orange juice.

In order to strengthen these products and to extend the range, Karstadt Warenhaus GmbH holds annual promotions including advice and tastings in all food departments. These campaigns are carried out in co-operation with TransFair e.V. and the fair trade company gepa, and are accompanied by special placements of the fair trade products.

Country-wide Fair Trade Weeks took place between 20^th October and 1^st November 2008. The launch event took place on 20^th Ocotber 2008 at the Karstadt Munich Am Nordbad store and was attended by personalities from public life, politics and business. The highlight was a live-cooking demonstration by the Chef de Cuisine Reinhard Angerer, which was publicised beforehand on Radio Arabella. Musical accompaniment was provided by Peter and the Wolf - The Mobile Recycling Band).
A continuation of the campaign is already planned for 2009.

The TransFair measures initiated by Karstadt were accredited on 1^st March 2005 by the German branch of UNESCO as an official project within the framework of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development for 2005/2006. This accreditation was reconfirmed on 29.11.2006 for the years 2007 and 2008.

Since 2001: annual action weeks for Karstadt Delicatessen /Perfetto departments.

We have always been able to attract personalities from public life, politics and business to our launch events for country-wide Fair Trade Weeks.

Previous launch events in stores:

• 2008 Munich am Nordbad
• 2008 Munich
• 2007 Hamburg Mönckebergstr.
• 2006 Dresden
• 2005 Wiesbaden
• 2004 Dortmund
• 2003 Munich am Bahnhof
• 2002 Düsseldorf

 

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