Traidcraft was started in 1979 to fight poverty through trade and was one of the earliest pioneers of fair trade in the UK.
Traidcraft currently employs more than 170 staff at its headquarters in Gateshead, and its offices in London, Bangladesh, Kenya, India and Cambodia.
Founded as a Christian response to poverty, Traidcraft works with people of all faiths and those of none.
Its unique structure – a trading company and a development charity working together – gives it a distinctive perspective on how trade can be made to work for the poor.
About the trading company
Traidcraft's trading company works with more than 100 producer groups in over 30 developing countries to provide 450 fair trade food, craft and textile products.
It has 120,000 customers and total sales, direct and licensed, of £19.6 million in 2006-2007.
About our charity
Traidcraft Exchange is the UK's only development charity specialising in making trade work for the poor. It delivers small business development in some of the poorest countries in the world, and campaigns for fairer trade practice and policy in the UK and internationally.
The income of Traidcraft Exchange for 2006–2007 was £2.8 million.
History and achievements
In 1993, Traidcraft was the first plc in the UK to publish a fully audited set of social accounts, a practice it has maintained since and for which it has gained numerous awards, the most recent being the 2006 ACCA award.
In 2004, Traidcraft Exchange was voted one of the most innovative charities in the UK.
In 2006, Traidcraft was one of only seven organisations nationally to receive a Queens Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
