Every company wants to minimise costs and maximise profits, but when these buyers become too powerful they can take unfair advantage of producers. In the 1960s, many consumers became aware that producers in poorer countries were not benefiting from the millions multinationals made from the global trade of goods and raw materials.

Goods and raw materials include coffee beans, pineapples, footballs and cocoa beans (from the cacao tree used to make cocoa and chocolate). Many small producers were going bankrupt, even during boom periods.

The Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International consists of more than 20 groups that work together to guarantee a better deal for 1 million producers, their workers and dependants in 50 countries.