Fair trade retail franchise Shared Earth's Managing Director Jeremy Piercy and celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson have discussed plans to work together on joint fair trade and organic projects in 2009. Jeremy says: 'The worldwide fair trade industry has been steadily growing for over 20 years. This growth is now starting to accelerate. The supermarkets have done wonders for this awareness through selling fair trade food, as have celebrities like Anthony Worrall Thompson.'

Anthony is eager to see the Shared Earth franchise expand nationwide and has written the forward note for Jeremy's new book on fair trade titled Cats, Coffins and Fair Trade Sex Toys. 'I'm a great believer in fair trade and I think the Shared Earth franchise is a good idea if it is well controlled,' says Anthony. 'There is a massive market for this. It has to be the way forward for free trade globally. I think traceability of products is the key thing to consider. Shared Earth seems to have this locked down through their supply chain by going direct to the artisan producers.'

Shared Earth has launched its eighth shop and is keen to continue with its expansion plan. Selling only certified Fairtrade goods, the shop stocks, among a range of 5,500 different gifts from all over the world, boxes made from recycled crisp packets, note books made from recycled car tyres and photo albums made from bamboo. Products are designed in the UK by Shared Earth's dedicated design team who work with 40 producers in 15 countries to produce items that are highly saleable and suited to UK consumers.

Published: 12 January 2009

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