EZA Fairer Handel

What EZA Fairer Handel does

EZA Fairer Handel GmbH is an Austrian private limited company headquartered in Köstendorf near Salzburg, founded in 1975, that imports and distributes fair trade certified products through both direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. The company operates an e-commerce platform (shop.eza.cc) serving private and business customers across Austria, Germany, and the broader EU, alongside two physical retail locations (EZA Shop Köstendorf and Weltladen 1010 Wien) and a network of partner world shops, food retail chains, bulk buyers, and resellers.

The product portfolio is anchored by specialty fair trade coffee — 40+ varieties of 100% Arabica highland beans from cooperatives in Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Uganda, organized under named brands including Organico, Espresso Italiano, MUNDO, Adelante, Jambo, Abessa, Pueblo, Nica, and Coffee for Future. Non-coffee offerings span food (chocolate, tea, spices, snacks, honey, cereals, beverages, sugar), organic fair trade cosmetics (Bio-Kosmetik), fair fashion under the Anukoo and Veraluna brands, and handmade crafts (Fair & Handgemacht). Sourcing is direct from over 17 smallholder cooperatives, with all coffee carrying dual FAIRTRADE and BIO (SLK AT-BIO-501) certification and 100% traceability to producer organizations.

EZA is a founding member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO, 1989) and co-founder of Fairtrade Österreich (1993). The business operates as a multi-channel importer and retailer; pricing is unit-based (coffee €4.99–€28.59) with a B2B and B2C shop structure, a coffee subscription (Kaffee Abo), and shipping infrastructure to Austria, Germany, EU, and outside-EU destinations. Premiums paid to producer cooperatives include a US$180/sack Fairtrade minimum plus separate Fairtrade, bio, climate, and women's premiums tied to specific impact outcomes (e.g., 3,000+ fuel-efficient stoves funded through the climate protection premium). The company employs 51–100 people and is led by Managing Director Michael Scherndl, with no disclosed external investors or parent company.

Name

EZA Fairer Handel

Legal name

EZA Fairer Handel GmbH

Website

https://eza.cc

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EZA Fairer Handel is an Austrian fair trade importer and retailer (founded 1975, 51–100 employees) that sources coffee, food, bio-cosmetics, and fair fashion directly from smallholder cooperatives and sells through e-commerce, owned retail, world shops, food retail, and wholesale channels across Austria, Germany, and the EU.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Retail

NAICS

All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)

SIC

Wholesale-Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods (5190), Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic & Natural Foods Import/Export & Global Trading (AFAIAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Specialty Grocery (Organic/Health/Ethnic/Gourmet) (CRAHAIAE), Specialty Coffee & Tea Retail (Beans, Leaves, Accessories) (CRAHAGAI), Ethnic Beverages Wholesale (Specialty/Import) (AFAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Fair trade products
• Organic coffee imports
• Fair fashion apparel
• Organic cosmetics
• Handmade crafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Köstendorf

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Food & Beverages: Sale of fair trade certified organic products including coffee, chocolate, tea, spices, cocoa, sugar, snacks, honey, cereals, drinks, and spirits through multiple channels.
2. Product Sales - Bio-Kosmetics: Sale of fair trade certified organic cosmetic products including facial care, body care, and hair care.
3. Product Sales - Fair Fashion & Accessories: Sale of fair trade fashion (Anukoo, Veraluna brands) and fashion accessories including bags, jewelry, scarves, and accessories.
4. Product Sales - Fair & Handmade: Sale of fair trade handmade products including outdoor items, home décor, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, baskets, fragrances, paper products, toys, sports equipment, and musical instruments.
5. Wholesale & Bulk Sales: Sales to bulk buyers (Großverbraucher), resellers (Wiederverkäufer), and world shops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EZA Fairer Handel imports and distributes a curated assortment of fair trade certified organic products, with a flagship specialty coffee range alongside chocolate, tea, spices, snacks, honey, and beverages. The non-food assortment includes Bio-Kosmetik organic cosmetics, fair fashion (Anukoo, Veraluna brands), fashion accessories, and Fair & Handmade crafts. Products are sold to private consumers, partner world shops, mainstream food retail, and institutional/resale buyers through an e-commerce shop and physical retail locations.

Product overview

EZA Fairer Handel is a fair trade company operating as both an e-commerce platform and physical retail chain specializing in fair trade and organic products. The product portfolio centers on food products, particularly specialty coffee with multiple named brands (ORGANICO, Espresso Italiano, MUNDO, Adelante, Jambo, Abessa, Coffee for Future), complemented by tea, chocolate, spices, snacks, honey, and beverages. Non-food offerings include Bio-Kosmetik (organic cosmetics), Fair Fashion under the Anukoo and Veraluna brands, Fair & Handmade crafts, and Fashion Accessories. The company operates an online shop (shop.eza.cc) for both private and business customers, alongside physical World Shops (Weltläden) in Austria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anukoo: Fair fashion clothing brand
• Organico

Products and services

• ORGANICO Coffee Premium fair trade and organic coffee line featuring 100% Arabica highland beans from small-scale farmer cooperatives in Mexico and other origins. Available in whole bean, ground, vacuum-packed, and espresso formats.
• Espresso Italiano Robust Italian-style espresso blend combining Arabica beans from Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, and Uganda, roasted in Italy for an authentic Italian espresso character.
• MUNDO Coffee Premium mild, fine-aromatic Central American coffee blend combining beans from GUAYAB, CIRSA, COSATIN, and UCIRI cooperatives.
• Adelante Coffee (Kaffee Adelante) 100% Arabica highland coffee sourced from women's cooperatives in Honduras and Peru, featuring notes of black tea, cinnamon, and jostaberry, with a women's premium supporting producer empowerment.
• Coffee for Future Climate-friendly coffee sourced from Uganda (Bukonzo Organics) and Mexico (SPOSEL), featuring malty, spicy, and fruity notes with a light smoky finish and a climate protection premium.
• Jambo Coffee Chocolatey Arabica coffee from Uganda sourced from MEACCE and FMI cooperatives, with a rich espresso-style flavor profile.
• Abessa Coffee Floral Ethiopian Arabica highland coffee offering distinctive African flavor notes.
• Pueblo Coffee Fruity coffee blend from Guatemala and Honduras showcasing the region's distinctive terroir.
• Nica Coffee Nutty coffee from Nicaragua featuring small-scale farmer cooperatives.
• ARABICA HEAT Spice Mix Organic fair trade spice blend combining coffee with chili, garlic, cumin, pepper, paprika, and herbs, created in partnership with the Austrian Mountain Herb Cooperative.
• EZA Fair Fashion (Anukoo) Fair trade fashion brand offering clothing including tops, jackets, dresses, pants, skirts, accessories, underwear, and men's fashion.
• Veraluna Fair trade fashion line for women, men, and nightwear.
• Bio-Kosmetik (Bio Cosmetics) Organic fair trade cosmetics range including facial care, body care, and hair care products.
• Fair & Handgemacht (Fair & Handmade) Handcrafted fair trade product assortment including outdoor items, plants, home decor, kitchenware, bathroom accessories, baskets, fragrances, candles, paper products, toys, and musical instruments.
• Modeaccessoires (Fashion Accessories) Fair trade fashion accessories including scarves, jewelry (earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings), bags, wallets, and leather goods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fairtrade minimum price guarantee of US$180/sack for washed Arabica coffee beans plus US$20 Fairtrade premium and US$40 bio premium
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of Mothers Initiative (FMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partner since 2020. FMI is a women-focused coffee organization in Uganda near Mt. Elgon with 371 members. All members are Fairtrade and Bio certified since 2019.
• Bukonzo Organic Farmers Cooperative Union (BOCU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner since 2018. BOCU has over 4,102 members (1,773 women) producing organic fair trade coffee in Kasese, Uganda. EZA pays US$180 minimum price plus premiums for fair trade, bio, and climate protection.
• UNICAFEC (Unión de Cafetaleros Ecológicos)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner since 2016. UNICAFEC is a Peruvian coffee cooperative in Cajamarca with 406 members (124 women). Founded in 2001, produces fair trade and bio-certified specialty coffees.
• APROLMA (Asociación de PROductoras Libres de Marcala)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partner since 2015. APROLMA is a women-only coffee cooperative in Honduras (Marcala region) with 69 members. Produces organic fair trade coffee with women-specific premiums supporting women's empowerment.
• MEACCEminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Ugandan coffee cooperative partner providing organic fair trade certified coffee beans.
• CIASFA (CECAPRO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Guatemalan coffee cooperative producing organic fair trade certified coffee.
• CIRSAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mexican coffee cooperative partner for organic fair trade certified products.
• COSATINminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Nicaraguan coffee cooperative producing organic fair trade certified coffee.
• Flor del CafetalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Coffee cooperative partner for fair trade certified products.
• Guaya'bminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Guatemalan cooperative producing organic fair trade coffee and honey.
• ISMAMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mexican coffee cooperative partner for organic fair trade certified products.
• Sierra AzulminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mexican coffee cooperative for fair trade certified products.
• UCOAACminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mexican coffee cooperative partner for fair trade certified products.
• YaxcoffeeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Mexican coffee cooperative producing organic fair trade certified coffee in the Sierra Madre region.
• ManduviráminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Paraguayan cooperative producing organic fair trade cane sugar for EZA products.
• CAFECOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Coffee cooperative partner for fair trade certified products.
• Fairtrade ÖsterreichcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993EZA Fairer Handel co-founded Fairtrade Österreich in 1993 (originally Transfair) alongside ARGE Weltläden with 11 founding organizations. Fairtrade Österreich is a member organization of Fairtrade International.
• World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989EZA Fairer Handel is a founding member of WFTO since 1989. WFTO is an international umbrella organization for fair trade organizations in over 80 countries with approximately 400 members. EZA adheres to WFTO's 10 Fair Trade Principles.
• UCIRI (Unión de Caficultores Indígenas de la Región del Istmo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Partner since 1988. UCIRI is a Mexican coffee cooperative in Oaxaca/Chiapas with approximately 960 members (240 women) from 45 village communities. Pioneer in organic coffee farming since 1986 and co-founder of Max Havelaar/Fairtrade label.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sonnentor Kräuterhandels GmbH: Austrian organic herb, tea and spice company with its own fair-trade and bio-certified sourcing program, selling through farm shops, retail and export channels. Shares EZA's Austrian origin, organic-first positioning and small-batch specialty food focus.
• GEPA - The Fair Trade Company: Germany's largest fair trade importer and wholesaler, founded 1975. Operates a near-identical model to EZA: direct trade with producer cooperatives, multi-channel distribution (wholesale, food retail, world shops), and a comparable product portfolio spanning coffee, food specialties, cosmetics and handicrafts. The closest direct peer to EZA Fairer Handel.
• WeltPartner eG: German fair-trade wholesale cooperative supplying world shops across Europe with food, handicrafts and textiles from producer cooperatives. Directly analogous to EZA's wholesale role within the Weltläden ecosystem.
• Rapunzel Naturkost: Bavarian organic food importer/manufacturer with a deep fair-trade and bio-certified product portfolio (coffee, cocoa, nuts, dried fruit). Operates its own "Hand in Hand" fair-trade program with producer cooperatives, mirroring EZA's cooperative-based direct-trade approach. Comparable in product mix and certification-led positioning.
• Claro fair trade AG: Swiss fair trade importer/wholesaler of coffee, food, cosmetics and handicrafts from small-scale producer cooperatives, distributing through Swiss world shops and retail. Closely comparable business model and product mix to EZA in a neighboring DACH market.
• El Puente GmbH: German fair trade importer/wholesaler supplying world shops and food retailers with food, coffee, textiles and handicrafts from producer cooperatives in the Global South. Directly comparable scale, product breadth and cooperative-sourcing model to EZA.

Regional players

• Equal Exchange: US fair-trade coffee and food co-operative sourcing from small-scale farmer co-ops, sold through food co-ops, grocery and institutional channels. Same cooperative-to-market fair-trade model as EZA, but US-market focused.
• Traidcraft Exchange: UK fair-trade pioneer importing food, crafts and clothing from producer cooperatives for distribution through UK retailers, churches and ethical consumers. Closely comparable fair-trade import model in a different (UK) geography.
• Fairtrade Original: Dutch fair-trade brand and importer selling coffee, chocolate, snacks and other food products through Dutch and European retailers. Comparable in product mix and fair-trade positioning, but operates primarily in the Benelux market rather than Austria/Germany.

Broad incumbents

• Alnatura Produktions- und Handels GmbH: Large German organic grocery retailer/wholesaler carrying broad fair-trade and bio-assortments across food, cosmetics and textiles. Not a fair-trade importer itself, but a much larger incumbent that competes for the same ethical-consumer basket across overlapping product categories.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EZAfair
• Facebookfacebook.com/fairerhandeleza
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eza-fairer-handel

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EZA Fairer Handel