# Badass Bean Roasts Kicking Horse Coffee is a Trailblazer of the Canadian Fair Trade Movement By Tiana Reid | Published 2011-07-22 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kicking-horse-coffee References: [ethicalocean](http://www.ethicalocean.com/product/kick-ass-coffee-dark) & [kickinghorsecoffee](http://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com) Lately, it seems that fair trade coffee companies are a dime a dozen. There’s always a new business or a new blend -- I mean, even [Starbucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/abandoned-coffee-shop) and [Walmart](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/death-wish-coffee-1) offer fair trade and organic options. Our contemporary consumer environment helps to raise the question: How do businesses navigate in what seems like a very large pond? Certified by TransFair Canada, Kicking Horse Coffee has the formula down pat. With an impressive logo and an even more impressive story, Kicking Horse Coffee is Canada’s top fair trade coffee brand and has been recognized for both entrepreneurship and their [small-batch roasts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bad-teddy-coffee) and freshly packaged beans. Aside from their roasts, there’s a Kicking Horse Café located in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada. The branding and marketing strategy in the physical space is palpable. The tabletop designs go along swimmingly with the logos on their specialty blends. Kicking Horse Coffee has a [promo video](http://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com/en/media/presskit/promovideo) that’s something out of a Hollywood sci-fi thriller but at the same time, they take their mission -- and their coffee -- seriously. Kicking Horse Coffee isn’t all about marketing, design and branding, however, as their mission, like all social businesses, extends far beyond financial success. The overall Kicking Horse ethos is centered around five key ideas: fair trade, organic, community development, health and sustainability. Even as [fair trade continues to be a bone of contention](http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/the_problem_with_fair_trade_coffee/), ethical consumerism has no sign of slowing down and Kicking Horse Coffee is certainly a torchbearer in that regard. **Contact Information:** [Kicking Horse Coffee Website](http://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com) 491 Arrow Road Invermere, BC V0A 1K2 Telephone: 1-250-342-4489 Fax: 1-250-342-4450 Photo Credit: KickingHorseCoffee.com ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.3/10 - Popularity: 72% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Fair Trade Coffee:** The increasing popularity of fair trade coffee presents opportunities for companies to develop innovative business models that prioritize ethical sourcing and community development. - **Ethical Consumerism:** The growing trend of ethical consumerism creates a demand for brands that prioritize fair trade, organic, and sustainable practices, leading to opportunities for businesses to differentiate themselves in the market. - **Social Business:** The rise of social businesses like Kicking Horse Coffee demonstrates the potential for companies to combine financial success with a mission centered around fair trade, community development, and sustainability. ### Where This Applies - **Coffee:** The coffee industry can leverage fair trade certifications and ethical sourcing practices to attract socially-conscious consumers and differentiate their offerings. - **Hospitality:** The hospitality industry can capitalize on the increasing demand for fair trade and organic coffee by incorporating sustainable sourcing practices into their beverage offerings, attracting eco-conscious customers. - **Marketing and Branding:** The marketing and branding industry can advise and help companies develop strategies to communicate their commitment to fair trade, organic, and sustainable practices, creating a unique selling proposition in the market. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sustainable Coffee Product Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sustainable-coffee1.md) - [Spirit-Infused Coffee Blends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/specialty-coffee-brand.md) - [Indulgent Coffee Blends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brave-day.md) - [Ethical Peppermint Mocha Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peppermint-mocha-coffee.md) - [Low-Cost Coffee Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/organic-fairtrade-coffee.md) - [Multi-Bean Coffee Blends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fairtrade-organic-five-country-blend.md) - [Expressive Organic Coffees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/expressive-organic-coffee.md) - [Seasonal Fair Trade Brews](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/death-wish-coffee-1.md) - [Specialty Coffee Marketplaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coffee-marketplace.md)