Fair trade coffee prices. The case study of Altromercato

This thesis aims to highlight the importance of Fair Trade in ensuring that producers earn secure and sustainable livelihoods. It does so by focusing on one product, coffee. After giving an overview of Fair Trade, the thesis analyses the specific case of Altromercato - the leading Fair Trade organisation in Italy. By means of the data provided by Altromercato, it describes how fair price is created throughout the coffee supply chain and the relation and positive impact that this organisation has on producers. The Arabica coffee produced by the Ethiopian Sidama Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union has been chosen for the price breakdown. The results show that Altromercato guarantees its producer a share of around 40% of the retail price, confirming the benefit of Fair Trade compared to the traditional market.