NZ Cafes in Bidding War to Host World-Record ‘Carrotmob’

26 April 2012

NZ Cafes in Bidding War to Host World-Record ‘Carrotmob’

Cafes in Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington have started bidding for the right to be mobbed by hundreds of ‘conscious’ consumers wanting to reward the cafe for choosing to sell certified Fairtrade coffee. The Carrotmob (also known as a reverse boycott or "buycott") is a consumer tactic that was pioneered in San Francisco to reward responsible business - with the carrot, rather than the stick.

Conscious Consumers, a New Zealand-based social enterprise, is organising the event to fund a solar-electricity system which will run the office of a small Fairtrade coffee farm in Papua New Guinea (PNG). There are currently nine cafes bidding for the right to be mobbed: in Auckland - Kokako, Cosset and Mimosa, in Wellinton - Kapai, Celcius, Tuatua, Peoples Coffee and Pranah, and in Hamilton - Suburbia. Each cafe bids the proportion of the money spent by the mob that they are willing to donate to the PNG solar power initiative. The bidding is heating up fast, with pledges of close to 25% being made to date.

Conscious Consumers organised New Zealand’s first Carrotmob in April 2011 in Wellington. The event was a huge success, attracting hundreds of consumers and raising nearly $3000 to improve the energy efficiency of the local cafe. This year's event will happen during Fairtrade Fortnight on Sunday 20 May between 2-4pm, in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.

“Conscious Consumers Nationwide Carrotmob is a really positive and effective way that consumers can show their support for ethical businesses,” said Fairtrade Associations of New Zealand’s (FTANZ) Executive Director, Steve Knapp. “The event will be one of the highlights of Fairtrade Fortnight,” he said. Will Valverde, FTANZ’s Producer Relations Officer, who works closely with the PNG farmers stated that “they are really excited to be receiving the solar-powered system as their current office is run by a very noisy diesel generator!”

Tomorrow is the last day of bidding and Conscious Consumers’ National Director, Ben Gleisner, expects “bidding to go crazy on Friday”. He hopes the event will raise about $1500, which “will set up the PNG famers with a great little solar-powered system”. “It all comes down to the turn-out on the day. We really hope people will get behind this great initiative,” Ben said. The Carrotmobs are being promoted via social networks including Facebook and Twitter.

Brent Shulkin, founder of Carrotmob International, said “as far as I can recall, this is the first national-scale Carrotmob campaign ever”. From San Francisco, he wanted everyone to know that “New Zealand brings great honour to the Carrotmob movement”.

Anyone can get involved in the Carrotmob events - check the Conscious Consumer website for more details.

www.consciousconsumers.org.nz
www.carrotmob.org

ENDS

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