Spotlight: Café Etico

The small, local, fair-trade coffee company operates as a social enterprise giving back 100% of its profits to CoDevelopment Canada (the local non-profit that owns Cafe Etico) to help fund and support its social justice and human rights programs in Latin America. 

Café Etico is committed to supporting small-scale farmers’ rights to a dignified standard of living by paying them a premium fair-trade wage and creating long-lasting, direct relationships based on equality and respect.

As part of its mission to support a higher standard of living for small scale farmers, Café Etico recognizes the importance of paying them a fair wage and in line with that, paying its Canadian employees a fair wage as well. Café Etico has been a proud Living Wage Employer for 10 years.

Furthermore, as a member of CUPE 1004, Café Etico is in alignment with its brothers and sisters in the labour movement identifying that paying a living wage is the right thing to do.

Like many small, local businesses, Café Etico has been greatly impacted by COVID-19.

"We have had to make many changes and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the pandemic. Like many businesses we moved towards doing more online sales and offering free local shipping." Katie Jackson, Café Etico

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy was very important in Café Etico’s ability to keep its employees employed during the pandemic.

"With so many people out of work and living paycheque to paycheque the importance of a living wage is evident and we are pleased to be able to offer what little comfort we can to our employees. We are one of the lucky businesses to still be operating – for now." Katie Jackson, Café Etico