In September we also have Fairtrade Fortnight to celebrate, from 21st September to 4th October. We invited one of our favourite fair trade suppliers, True Origin Foods, to be the subject of our Q&A this issue.
True Origin Foods, based in Paisley, work directly with amazing Producer Groups across Africa—in countries like Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique and the Kingdom of Eswatini—to bring their finest ingredients and products to the UK market.
How did your business come into being?
What started as a timely shipment of rice for Fairtrade Fortnight in 2009 has grown into something much bigger. Originally known as Just Trading Scotland, we’ve spent years building meaningful partnerships with small scale farmers and producer groups around the world and connecting them with supporters and conscious consumers across Scotland and the UK.
We believe in dignity through trade and that’s why we rebranded in 2023 to True Origin as this name reflects our vision of having true impact at origin through food, ensuring that the people growing your food have a voice, a platform, and the respect they
deserve.
You put a lot of effort into sourcing your ingredients, what are your guiding principles?
Our overall guiding principle is simple: Delicious Food, Delivering Impact. Delicious Food made in small batches, picked and packed at source to lock in freshness. By using traditional farming methods and only the finest natural ingredients, we ensure every bite is as good as it can be. But great taste is only half the story. Delivering Impact – We partner with farmer associations and women led cooperatives to help communities thrive, from sending children to school to supporting sustainable agriculture and livelihoods. It’s good food that’s good for you, good for the planet, and good for the farmers who grow it.
What is your brand mission and what is it you hope to do by bringing your products to the market?
True Origin Foods works directly with African smallholder farmers and manufacturers to bring the UK consumer some of the tastiest, authentic and freshest food products available. Our purchases of fine foods help farmers and producer communities receive a fair and reliable income, enabling them to buy equipment, education, infrastructure and take care of their environment.
As a WFTO Guaranteed Member, we adhere to fair trade principles, believing this is the fairest way to do business. We are a Paisley based social enterprise and apply these principles across our UK operations, creating employment here and striving to reduce our environmental impact.
Why do you use Greencity Wholefoods as a wholesaler?
It’s simple really: our range feels like a perfect fit for Greencity Wholefoods’ interesting, authentic, and great tasting products. Together, we bring all this good stuff to some of Scotland’s most discerning wholefood stores, delis, and farm shops.
Greencity has a long history of supporting ethical and fair trade, they’re the epitome of what business can be at its best and that reputation is exactly why we’ve partnered with them since our inception in 2009.
Finally, Greencity may be in Glasgow rather than True Origin’s hometown of Paisley, but we’re local enough to count as neighbours.
If you could invite three people to a dinner party, who would they be, and why?
Tough question, so many possibilities! I think we’d go for a threesome of David Livingstone, Harriet Lamb and Nelson Mandela as they would create an interesting discussion about doing what is right and there would never be a dull moment.
Livingstone’s work as an explorer and his fight against slavery provide a historical perspective. Harriet Lamb brings modern ideas about fair trade and climate justice, making the conversation relevant to today’s challenges. Mandela offers wisdom through his lifelong commitment to equality, dignity, and peace. Their different experiences would encourage a thoughtful discussion about power, fairness, and our responsibility to others. Together, they show how lessons from the past can help us build a better future.
What are your plans for the future?
We’d love to double our sales because every extra purchase allows us to buy more from our farming and Producer Partners in Africa, creating a greater and more lasting true impact at origin. As demand grows, we can strengthen our relationships with existing suppliers while also introducing new, high-quality products to Scottish consumers.
This growth would provide more opportunities for small-scale farmers and manufacturers across Africa to expand their businesses, increase their incomes, and reach new markets. At the same time, customers in Scotland would enjoy an even wider range of fair, unique, ethical, and delicious products that celebrate the rich flavours and craftsmanship of Africa.
Delicious Food, Delivering Impact!
Visit our website to see all the True Origin products we supply.
