A new online platform designed to make it easier for consumers to find ethically produced food and drink products has launched for the first time.
Natreco stocks a variety of organic, Fairtrade and locally sourced brands across a number of categories, including tea, chocolate, snacks and condiments. It also distinguishes between various gluten-free categories and the rest of the products on the site, making it easier for consumers with an intolerance to gluten to find products that suit them.
As well as food and drink options, Natreco also sells staple healthcare, beauty and homeware items from vitamins and cosmetics to tableware and lightbulbs. The retail concept was inspired by founder Gary Collins’ trip to Borneo, where he witnessed the effects of unethical palm oil production.
Collins explained: “On returning from the trip, and witnessing the rainforest destruction [associated with unethical palm oil], I was determined to stop using palm oil products, but found it incredibly hard and time consuming. I had to visit one store to get food products, another for cleaning products, another for toiletries and so on. I realised that there must be other people in a similar situation, struggling to shop conveniently according to their own ethical stance, whether that be to buy products that were palm oil-free, Fairtrade or organic. And so the idea of launching Natreco was born.
“I hope we’ve created a shopping environment where people can be reassured they don’t have to read every label to ensure they’re buying a product that meets their ethical criteria, and that we’ve done all the hard work for them.”
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