Tropical Wholefoods, based in the United Kingdom, is an importer and seller of fair trade foods that are certified organic and BRC Global Standard Grade A. Tropical Wholefoods specializes in dried goods like a variety of mushrooms, nuts, spices and fruits. This fair trade company’s partners are in three main countries: Burkina Faso, Uganda and Pakistan.
The story for Tropical Wholefoods begins in the early 1990s, when fair trade, wasn’t as commercially successful (and economically viable) as it is today. Started by Adam Brett, Kate Sebag and their colleague Angello Ndyaguma, Tropical Wholefoods began as a production and export company of sun-dried fruits in Uganda called Fruits of the Nile. About a decade later, a partnership with Fullwell Mill meant that the business is now producing cereal bars and packing nuts and fruits in their manufacturing site.
Transparency and sustaining relationships seems to be key to Tropical Wholefoods’ success. Their fair trade partners are considered not just sources of short-term profit, but they’re deemed to be long-term relationships. With that being said, Tropical Wholefoods gives their fair trade partners valuable training and information on topics including ethical trading, information technology, business management, organic farming techniques, solar drying technology and food quality assurance. By paying a fair wage and making prepayments, international loans and grants a possibility to their partners, Tropical Wholefoods has the farmer in mind, and not simply the allure of corporate social responsibility.
The products that Tropical Wholefoods imports and manufacturers are available at Oxfam, in health food shops, as well as through their online shop.
Contact Information:
Tropical Wholefoods Website
7 Stradella Rd
Herne Hill
London
SE24 9HN
United Kingdom
Telephone: 0845 258 2781
Fax: 0207 737 0466
Fair Trade Dried Goods
Tropical Wholefoods Works with Farmers from All Over the World
Trend Themes
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2. Transparency and Relationship Sustainability - Opportunities for disruptive innovations in creating new business models focused on transparency and long-term relationships between businesses and their fair-trade partners.
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Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - Opportunities for disruptive innovations in offering fair-trade and sustainable food products, and creating a completely transparent and long-term food business model.
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