Our Mission
Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.
Our History
In 1979, three aid volunteers returned from Africa. They had seen how small-scale farmers were plunging themselves into debt due to the appallingly low prices they received for their products and buyers’ lack of transparency. At the same time, coffee consumption was growing in the UK, and the people drinking it had no idea that the farmers were not even covering their costs or that they had no other choices. Throwing money at the problem was not the only answer. Direct, fairer trading would make a real difference. In 2013, fellow co-op Equal Exchange US, an independent alternative trader with a parallel origin story, invested in Equal Exchange UK. In 2017, the decision was made to bring Equal Exchange UK and Equal Exchange US under one ownership.
Small Farmer Grown
We’ve been a proud supporter of authentic fair trade since day one, and to us that means knowing and working directly with the farmers who produce our food. We partner with farmer cooperatives who are democratically organized, sharing resources and decision-making among their members. Collectively, they gain crucial market access and decide how to invest fair trade and organic premiums in their communities. We now source from over 40 small farmer organizations around the world. Our longstanding relationships allow us to secure the best crops, while continuing to develop innovative programs in collaboration with the co-ops, from crop diversification to quality trainings to women’s leadership development.
Co-op Owned
We expect no less from ourselves than we ask of our farmer partners. For that reason we have chosen to organize ourselves as a worker co-op, an alternative business model based on democratic principles. Each worker-owner gets one vote, has access to shared financial information, and invests an equal share in the business. In contrast to the national trend of growing income inequality, we have a 5:1 top-to-bottom pay ratio, plus excess profit distribution shared equally among worker-owners at the end of each year. We also have a “Never Sell Out” clause in our by-laws ensuring that in the event of a sale, all net proceeds would be donated to another alternative trade company.
Citizen-Consumers
Our growing community of Citizen-Consumers are working together to build a better food system by organizing and engaging in shared learning. If you’re concerned about climate change and the threat it has on the livelihood of farmers, or how multinationals are controlling our food industry, join us! We gather for monthly member meetings as well as webinars and events where we will dive deeper into topics around food politics, agriculture and trade, climate justice, and economic, social and political rights.
Alternative Trade Economy
Our vision has always been to build alternative supply chains that, against all odds, give farmer co-ops a fighting chance and a seat at the table. We’ve made great strides, and yet our mission is more threatened today than it was 10 years ago. In the wider food system, corporations control everything from seeds to supply and price, while relentlessly chipping away at the regulations that inform and protect consumers. These forces have taken power away from the people and continue to threaten our planet. We believe that by organizing together, we can build a stronger, more democratic food system that puts power back in the hands of small farmer communities, alternative traders, and citizen-consumers.