Denmark's

A groundbreaking organic delivery business in Denmark shows that ethics and economics can co-exist.

The service, which was set up in 1997, has 30,000 customers, a turnover of 12m and accounts for 7% of all Danish organic food sales – this is equivalent to a box scheme in the UK achieving annual sales of 70 million.

Thomas Harttung set up the Aarstiderne project, which he calls the “Organic Full Monty” because of the complete transparency of the operation to consumers, suppliers and even commercial rivals. Speaking at the Soil Association’s National Conference in January, he explained that accounts will be open for all customers to inspect, showing how much is paid to suppliers and the company’s mark up. In addition, employment contracts, wages and shareholder agreements will be in the public domain. All pricing is based on the cost of production, a fair profit and some resources towards investment and human development on farms.

Thomas is planning to introduce a fair trade initiative, so that customers can be assured that the prices paid to farmers are fair, and that working and social conditions are decent. The innovative work of the business has already been recognised outside of Denmark – in November 2002 Aarstiderne won the Royal Green Food Award, in the European Royal Awards for Sustainability.

“The greatest impediment to an organic future are the supply chains that operate intransparently and without a fair sharing of risks and rewards. The food chain should be able to feed creativity and diversity,” says Thomas.

“Business people who listen to my plans will probably think that I am screaming bonkers and that the competition will have me for lunch. Well, we shall see. We feel that the time has come to do this.”

Denmark has the highest per capita organic spending in the world ­ around 5% of food sales are on organic products, compared with 1% in the UK.

Contact Thomas Harttung, Aartisderne 0045 76829100, or th@aarstiderne.com or visit [sorry this link is no longer available]

FROM Organic Trade Services, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner