A team of A2 Applied Business students from Carmel College have recently been notified of their exceptional two "highly commended" awards in a recent competition run by Traidcraft.

The competition required the group to design and compile a new FAIRTRADE food product. They worked tirelessly in the development of a promotional campaign that included advertising material, merchandising and educational resources. The product that the team developed was FAIRTRADE ROCKS. This product combines the flavour of FAIRTRADE mango and blueberries to create a taste to be savoured. The rock was packaged using high quality recycled cardboard and each piece of rock carried the FAIRTRADE logo. 

The product had to be made from a range of FAIRTRADE products and the team decided that they would look to create a product which would attract a wide segment of the market. The students have already helped to introduce FAIRTRADE products into the College and through the competition they are now helping to increase the awareness of this worthwhile cause all over the country.

The judges were extremely impressed with the entry, commenting on the creativity, market research, slick packaging, teamwork and hard work that had obviously gone into the submission. They considered it worthy of two Highly Commended Awards in the category. They quoted “FAIRTRADE Rocks is a fantastic name and concept and the students should be very proud of what they have achieved.”

In being pipped to the post Laura Fowler, Applied Business Tutor commented, “This extra-curricular work that the students have produced is outstanding and by being awarded two Highly Commended Awards shows the high quality and sheer hard work that this group of students have dedicated to this project. I am extremely proud of their astounding accomplishment.”

Each member of the team played a significant role throughout the task and the success would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of Laura Fowler.

Achieving this highly commendable accolade adds further vigour to the College ethos surrounding the FAIRTRADE movement. One member of the team stated; “together we can help to change the lives of others…One box at a time.”