The poll, carried out by YouGov, shows that almost half (47%) of women and almost one in five men have baked a cake in the last three months.
Only 16% of the population have never baked a cake. Enthusiasm is strongest in the East (44%) and South (39%) but wanes in London (29%) and Scotland (25%).
And it’s not just women who are baking cakes; only a third of men interviewed admit to never having baked a cake.
Now, Traidcraft plans to use the results to encourage people to use their kitchen skills in the cause of global poverty by baking a fair trade cake.
To help them, Traidcraft is offering a ‘bake pack’ with a cake recipe card, fair trade almonds from Pakistan, honey from Chile and sultanas from South Africa. Also included is a pair of fair trade rubber gloves to help with the washing up.
The pack costs £14.95 (including P&P) – with £5 going directly to Traidcraft’s charity, Traidcraft Exchange, to help producers in the developing world.
When hearing about the bake pack, Elizabeth Mantoor from South Africa who supplies fair trade sultanas said: “I am wishing all the best to you who are making the cakes. We depend on you for the future.”
Traidcraft head of fundraising Liza Stevens, said: “There have been claims that home baking is a lost art but these results suggest just the opposite. Women in their teens and early twenties are just as enthusiastic cake bakers as their mothers and grandmothers.
“We hope lots of people will take up our challenge and enjoy the delights of a homemade cake even more, knowing that they’re helping thousands of people like Elizabeth.”
People can order a cake pack direct from Traidcraft on 0845 330 8900 or online at www.traidcraftshop.co.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Traidcraft is the UK’s leading fair trade organisation and has been pioneering fair trade since 1979.
- Traidcraft has introduced many fair trade products to the UK market – from the more commonly known coffee to more unusual products such as rubber gloves and the UK’s first Fairtrade Marked organic pasta.
- Traidcraft's charity, Traidcraft Exchange, helps people lift themselves out of poverty through trade.
- Right now, more than 600,000 people in Asia and Africa are benefitting directly from Traidcraft’s work and we are improving the lives of a further 25 million.
- YouGov interviewed 2,013 people for the poll between 1-3 April 2009. The survey was carried out online and all figures have been weighted to be representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
- For further information please contact Rachael Heath at Cool Blue rachael.heath@coolbluebrand.com or 01642 351 011 or Melissa Duncan at Traidcraft on +44(0)7831 576 103
