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Our Bureau

Bangalore, Aug. 17 The UK-based retailer Marks & Spencer is keen to increase the volume and value of sourcing from suppliers in India and boost its commitment to “fair trade.”

As part of the company’s £200-million five-year project ‘Plan A’, M&S is working with some suppliers who work with farmers in Gujarat producing cotton certified by the UK-based Fairtrade organisation — i.e. cotton meeting international Fairtrade standards for production of seed cotton (such as responsible farming using less chemicals, and non-usage of genetically modified seeds). The ‘Fairtrade’ mark in return ensures that the farmers get a fair price and the ‘Fairtrade’ premium is invested by them in community development projects.

M&S’ range of clothing launched last March was produced by 50 Fairtrade cotton farmers in Gujarat. According to the company Web site, it is working with over 600 Fairtrade cotton farmers in Cameroon, Mali, Senegal and India.

Globally, M&S is keen to bring more farmers into this initiative and shift more to fair trade suppliers. M&S target is to convert 20 million garments to Fairtrade cotton by year-end, said Mr Venu Nair, Regional Head, South Asia Offices, Marks & Spencer, on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Fabrics & Accessories Trade Show in the city.

Currently, Marks & Spencer is sourcing from 22 suppliers in the country, said Mr Nair. “About 85 per cent of what is sourced here is clothing, the rest is footwear. We would like to increase the volume sourced from these suppliers in India. Last couple of years, the business from sourcing has grown by about 100 per cent. It will continue to maintain this healthy growth rate.”

According to the Web site, M&S’ stores stock “nearly 70 different items and our range currently accounts for one third of the world’s Fairtrade cotton. Customer response has been encouraging with sales of Fairtrade cotton totalling £630,000 during the Fairtrade Fortnight (Feb/Mar 2007).”

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