Italy: fair trade is still boosting

In Italy fair trade is boosting: according to a recent study, fair trade retail sales totaled 100 million euro in 2005. More than 50% of the business is due to Ctm Altromercato shops, that are now over 500 all over the country. Ctm Altromercato, based in Verona (Northern Italy), was born as a cooperative (Ctm-Cooperazione Terzo Mondo) founded in 1988 in Bolzano by a group of people and associations actively involved in international solidarity and development cooperation, with the aim of tackling poverty in North-South relations.   Ctm altromercato is currently the largest Fair Trade organization in Italy and the second largest world wide. It includes more than 118 organisations (associations and cooperatives) that manage the World Shops throughout Italy. Most of the work is done by over 5.000 volunteers committing themselves to promote a more fair society. In addition, more than 200 regularly employed men and women work for the same dream: 60 in the head offices and 150 in the World Shops.  In recent years food products sold through conventional retail outlets have increased in importance. Ctm Altromercato markets over 200 food products, tropical fruits and 3 000 handicraft products directly imported from 150 partner producers organisations from the South. On national basis, fair trade in Italy had a 35 million euro turnover in 2005 (+8%). www.altromercato.it