Oxfam Ireland has ceased retailing Fair Trade products. Between October 2011 and February 2012 our Fair Trade shops, in Cork, Galway and South King Street, Dublin switched to donated goods shops. Our shop in Rosemary Street, Belfast closed down in January 2012. Our online retailing of Fair Trade products has also ceased trading.

This was a very difficult decision for Oxfam Ireland. Oxfam shops have been selling Fair Trade products since 1986. Fair Trade goods were considered to be niche products and the support of Oxfam Ireland over the years has contributed to the hugely successful growth of the brand. Now Fair Trade products are available in most mainstream supermarkets and shops and are widely available to consumers.

However, at the same time, the gift shop market in Ireland has become more competitive than ever because of the economic conditions in the country. As a result Oxfam made the decision to cease retailing Fair Trade products.

Oxfam will remain part of the Fair Trade network and campaign for equitable trading conditions for developing countries at both the local and global levels. We will also look for other ways in which we can support Fair Trade in Ireland in the coming years.

Our programme work in Africa will continue to have a strong focus on making trade fair for smallholder farmers and local producers.

We’d like to thank all our valued customers who have supported our Fair Trade retail outlets over the years. We hope you will support us in our continued efforts to ensure equitable trading conditions for poorer countries and for small producers.

If you have any further questions please email info@oxfamireland.org