Ellon, a Fairtrade Town

The town of Ellon is the first town in the north east of Scotland to gain Fairtrade status, beyond Aberdeen city. This was achieved after a nine month campaign involving local schools, churches, community organisations and businesses. Ellon is one of the 700 Fairtrade towns in the world.

This means that in Ellon you can buy goods in the town's shops with the Fairtrade mark (an independent consumer label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal). Also that there are a significant number of churches and schools using and selling Fairtrade goods, cafes and restaurants offering Fairtrade products and local businesses using Fairtrade refreshments on their premises. For a full list see below.

Every year there are activities promoting Fairtrade, particularly during the national Fairtrade Fortnight in March. Look out for tasting stalls at the supermarkets, public events, a display at the library and posters and banners advertising Fairtrade goods.

The Ellon Fairtrade Town Steering Group encourages and supports organisations and businesses to swap to using Fairtrade.

Contact email for the Fairtrade Town Steering Group: fairtrade.ellon@gmail.com

What is Fairtrade?
Fairtrade is a growing movement that gives farmers in developing countries a better price for their products. More than 7 million farmers, workers and their families across 52 developing countries benefit from the Fairtrade system.

For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). Producer organisations that supply Fairtrade products are inspected and certified by FLO. They receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.



You can buy over 2,000 Fairtrade products in the UK including tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, biscuits & snacks, bananas, lemons, grapes, avocados, pineapples, rice, pulses, chocolate, honey, fruit juice, footballs, cotton clothing, wine … and many more. For a full list of products, suppliers and information about Fairtrade and the principles behind it, visit the Fairtrade Foundation website at www.fairtrade.org.uk


Where to find Fairtrade in Ellon

Shops
- Costcutter, The Square: Instant and ground coffees, tea, bananas, chocolate, sugar, fruit juices, wines, honey, jam and marmalade, rice, biscuits.
- Haldanes, Ythan Terrace: Instant and ground coffees, tea.
- Co-op, Esslemont Circle: Instant and ground coffees, tea, chocolate products, fruit juices, bananas, wines, cakes.
- Co-op, Meiklemill: Instant and ground coffees, tea, chocolate products, fruit juices, bananas, wines, cakes.
- Tesco, Castle Road, Ellon: Big variety of Fairtrade Products.

Restaurants, Cafés and Snack bars
- Delicious coffee Shop, Take Away, Unit 1, 32 Bridge Street, Ellon: Sugar, use of Fairtrade ingredients in homebakes, coffee.
- Kirk Centre Coffee Shop, 4 Station Road - Coffee, tea, biscuits and snacks & use of Fairtrade ingredients in homebakes.
- Ice Cream and Coffee Pot, 36 Market Street - In café: sugar sachets, chocolate bars and biscuits.
- Tolbooth Public House, Station Road, Ellon: sugar.

Workplaces supporting Fairtrade by using Fairtrade refreshments
- Winchesters, 57 Station Road
- The Kirk Centre, 4 Station Road
- Lawrence Milne, 17 Union Street
- Bonnyton House Residential Home, Beechwood Avenue
- Scotia BBS, Balmacassie Business Centre
- Ritson Smith (Accountants), 42 Market Street
- The Art and Frame Shop, Market Street

Community Organisations supporting Fairtrade
- Ellon Parish Church - a Fairtrade church
- St Mary's Episcopal Church - a Fairtrade church
- Ellon Baptist Church - regular Fairtrade stall
- Our Lady & St John RC Church - monthly Fairtrade stall after Mass
- Ellon Academy - a Fairtrade school
- Ellon Primary School - Fairtrade stalls and tuckshops
- Auchterellon Primary School - Fairtrade stalls and tuckshops
- Ellon Resource Centre - Fairtrade tea and coffee available, also Community Garden Project
- Ellon Community News - Fairtrade refreshments
- Aberdeenshire Council - provides Fairtrade refreshments at Council facilities.

Marking Fairtrade Town Status


The story begins … An evening celebration reception took place on Tuesday 10th October 2006 to mark the achievement of the townspeople in reaching the status of Fairtrade town. Representatives of schools, churches, business traders and community groups were present to receive the award, presented by Alan Campbell, Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council. MSP Nora Radcliffe also offered her ongoing support and congratulations on behalf of the Scottish Parliament.




"I am delighted to hear that Ellon has received Fairtrade town status. I know that many people in Ellon have worked tirelessly to achieve this result and the community should be proud of this. I was delighted to meet with two Chilean producers of Fairtrade honey back in March and play a part in promoting Fairtrade within Ellon."
Malcolm Bruce, MP

The story continues … another business survey in the community and renewal of the status in 2008 and more recently in 2009.

During Fairtrade Fortnight, 2010, Palestinian Oil Producer together with Betsy Reid from Scottish Fairtrade Forum visited Ellon Academy. Fairtrade Stalls and church services were held in Ellon. Fairtrade Steering Group members visited shops, catering outlets, work places and community groups encouraging use of FT products.

March 2010 "Acoustic Café" event at New Inn Hotel. Rob Halligan and Gareth Davie - Jones delivered their unique brand of "acoustic-entertainment-with-a-message". From soaring ballads and skillful instrumentals to catchy sing-alongs and feel good anthems they use their music and stories to inform and raise awareness of a range of social justice issues with which they are involved.