The Awards were presented by entrepreneur and chef, Levi Roots, at a ceremony at the Colston Hall on Friday 8th March, attended by 160 business leaders in the region. Levi has recently visited Fairtrade cocoa farmers in Ghana and told the audience how inspired he was by the difference Fairtrade makes to communities.
The ceremony was opened by the Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson.
The overall winner was Easy Bean the innovative one-pot food company from Yeovil.
The winners of the individual awards were:
Best Fairtrade Accommodation : Greenhouse B&B in Bristol
Best Fairtrade Food Outlet: UWE Coffee Cart in Bristol
Best Fairtrade Office, sponsored by Burges Salmon: City College Plymouth
Best Fairtrade Retailer: Lee Abbey in Devon
Best Fairtrade Supplier: Essential in Bristol and Koolskools in Lyndhurst.
The aim of the Awards is to increase sales of, and support for, Fairtrade amongst businesses in the region, by promoting those businesses that support Fairtrade and encouraging others to do more. Increasing sales of Fairtrade products enables more small producers in the developing world to make a sustainable living.
46 businesses across the region have achieved bronze, silver and gold Awards.
Pictured below: Levi Roots hands over the winning trophy to Easy Bean managing director Christina Baskerville. Photo courtesy of Jon Craig www.joncraig.co.uk
