Fairtrade sales rise worldwide

1 August 2012 – A new report from Fairtrade International reveals that consumers around the world spent $6.6 billion (€5.4bn) on Fairtrade certified products in 2011. The expenditure represents a 12% increase over the previous year, and a projected 10% growth rate in the US. While the Fairtrade Certification Mark can be found on nearly 27,000 products, Glee Gum heads the charge as the first and only chewing gum to bear the label.

All six flavours of Classic Glee Gum— peppermint, cinnamon, bubblegum, tangerine, triple berry, and spearmint are Fairtrade certified. Most gum contains artificial sweeteners of dubious origin. But the cane sugar inside Classic Glee meets the social, economic and environmental standards set by Fairtrade International. “It’s exciting to be at the forefront of a growing movement,” remarks Deborah Schimberg, founder and president of Verve, manufacturer of Glee Gum. “The more that shoppers demand ethically sourced goods, the better our global marketplace becomes and the prouder we feel to be a part of it. Every day it gets easier to make conscientious choices about what we buy—and what we chew!”