Equal Exchange Launches Organic, Fair Trade Candy Bars for Eco-Fundraising Program in Time for Back-to-School Sales
In response to customer demand, Equal Exchange offers new candy bars and online sales for schools and community groups
(3BL Media) West Bridgewater, MA - May 2, 2012 - To help schools and community groups with Back-to-School fundraising this fall, leading eco-fundraiser Equal Exchange is expanding to offer both organic and fairly traded candy bars and online fundraising. Selling high quality products that parents and teachers need and want is a good fit for schools looking for a competitive profit margin while also making a positive impact on the earth and benefiting small scale farmers around the globe. With 40% profits, schools are able to reinforce values of sustainability and global citizenship while enjoying award-winning products and meeting their fundraising goals. Kosher, gluten free, and vegan options are available.
Approximately 75 percent of Equal Exchange’s product fundraising program takes place in the fall.
For parents tired of waxy, tasteless chocolates, Equal Exchange’s new delicious, fairly traded and certified organic candy bars give an exciting, eco-friendly twist on traditional favorites. Flavors include a Dark Chocolate Fruit and Nut bar, a Milk Chocolate Crisp bar with puffed rice, and a Milk Chocolate bar filled with Peanut Butter. Candy bars come in 24 bars per case ($24/case) or with carrying cases in spring of 2013. As always, Equal Exchange also features a full-line of delicious and high quality organic, Fair Trade foods such as coffee, chocolates, teas, cocoas, olive oil, and granola bars as well as beautiful handmade scarves, jewelry, toys and more from around the world.
For a “green” Halloween, Equal Exchange will be launching Milk Chocolate Minis this fall, previously only available in dark chocolate.
In addition to new products, this fall, Equal Exchange will be offering co-branded online fundraising “stores” for schools and community groups conducting fall catalog fundraisers. The online stores will complement door-to-door selling while also making it easier for far-away relatives and friends to participate. Online orders will be shipped directly to each person’s home, making fundraising easier than ever. Catalog sales will continue to raise 40% while online sales will raise 25% profit.
To take advantage of Equal Exchange’s Back-to-School fundraising, organizations should start catalog sales as early as possible in the fall and no later than Mid-November in order for items to arrive by the winter holidays.
To order catalogs or set up an online “store,” organizations should sign-up for a free starter kit at http://equalexchange.coop/fundraiser or e-mail fundraising@equalexchange.coop .
Beyond making money for organizations, Equal Exchange offers educational tools including “The Chocolate Teaching Kit,” which includes a real, dried cacao pod (!), and also a free 16-unit curriculum.
"I love how the Equal Exchange Fundraiser introduces children to the values of equity and sustainability while allowing parents and teachers to purchase everyday products that we all love. I hope to continue this fundraiser for many years to come!"
-Jackie DeLisi, Parent, The Brimmer and May School, Chestnut Hill MA
About Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange has been a pioneer and U.S. market leader in the Fair Trade and organic sectors since 1986 and is a full service provider of high quality, organic coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, and other products. Customers include grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, schools and places of worship nationwide. 100% of Equal Exchange products are fairly traded, benefiting more than 45 small farmer co-operatives in 25 countries around the world. In keeping with its Fair Trade mission Equal Exchange is a democratically organized worker-owned co-operative. Equal Exchange has been honored for its social entrepreneurship from Fast Company magazine, The Financial Times, WorldBlu and others.
