Every city needs an iconic cafe, the kind of place that appears in guide books but is also frequented by locals, rich and poor alike, writes Joe McNamee.

Raise your spoons and rejoice!

If driving to work tomorrow after the bank holiday, you happen to pass a bottle bank, the chances are that you will avert your gaze. writes Terry Prone. 

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Choosing a Fairtrade brand can make a difference to producers in the developing world, says Jonathan deBurca Butler

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Aldi is entering the Communion wear market, with dresses from €24.99.

BUBBLE DELIGHT

FAIR’S FAIR

Irish people are the biggest chocolate consumers in the world, but cocoa farmers earn little more than the cost of a bar a day, writes Jim Clarken

Irish comics spoof Brad Pitt's famously cringeworthy Chanel No 5 ad in aid of Fairtrade Fortnight

Sales of Fairtrade products are up by almost a fifth in the UK.

Each week Esther N McCarthy scouts around for interesting pieces for your interiors. This week she discovers skulduggery in lighting and starring roles for cushions.

Wine tastings are always a revelation, and none more so than the one hosted by Lidl recently for people in the wine media to taste.

Today marks the beginning of FairTrade fortnight.

The ice cream makers, Ben and Jerry's, are to make all 58 flavours of their product Fairtrade by the end of 2013.

Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s today announced all its 58 flavours, sold in 39 countries, will be made with fair trade products by the end of 2013.

Sales of fair-trade products increased by up to 30% in Ireland last year.

IN her otherwise excellent report on her visit to Kenya sponsored by Lyons Tea (‘Refreshing Change, October 11), your correspondent seriously misrepresents Fairtrade.

Sales of Fairtrade products in the UK soared to £493m (€653m) last year – up 81% on 2006, figures out today show.

CORK is living up to its reputation as Ireland’s top fair trade county as a string of local towns enjoy a packed calendar of events to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2008.

Dublin will be awarded Fairtrade Capital City status today, just two years after it launched a campaign aimed at securing the title.

A UK retailer is switching its entire range of own-brand hot drinks to Fairtrade, it announced today.

YOUR feature (June 8) asked ‘How fair is fair trade?’ and went on to cite various criticisms of fairtrade that have been made in the media over the past year.

British retailer Sainsbury's revealed lower-than-expected sales growth today as the supermarket chain joined Tesco in warning of a "competitive" trading environment.

A boom in demand for Fairtrade products helped tea and coffee firm Cafedirect post a 9% rise in annual sales today.

Takeover target Sainsbury’s posted higher than expected sales figures today as the supermarket chain reaped the benefits of increased revenues from Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day.

FAIRTRADE Fortnight kicked off yesterday with food producers from around the globe heralding benefits of the Fairtrade concept.

Sales of Fairtrade products in Ireland are worth €9 million-a-year, according to the body that promotes the brand around the country.

IT’S nice to know that the likes of Leonardo di Caprio and Radiohead, as well as other world leaders in the creative arts, are so on-message when it comes to green issues.

Campaigning rocker Bob Geldof is planning to create a TV channel dedicated to saving the world.

Ben & Jerry’s is to introduce what it claims is Ireland’s first Fairtrade ice-cream with the launch of its Classic Vanilla flavour.

FOR everyone with an interest in helping to relieve Africa of poverty, July 24 marked a sad turning point, when the global free trade talks collapsed, putting the World Trade Organisation’s Doha development negotiations on hold. It is increasingly unlikely an agreement can be found on making trade fairer.

Farmers in the world's developing countries are celebrating World Fair Trade Day today.

Fairtrade fortnight is running until March 19. The aim is to increase consumer awareness and to encourage people to purchase Fairtrade products.

Dublin coffee drinkers can now make their mark on the Fairtrade market.

Bewley’s Grafton St café is to switch to serving only Fairtrade-certified coffee from tomorrow.

Marks & Spencer set about pricking the collective conscience of UK shoppers today by launching a major advertising campaign about how it sourced its products.