The UK’s biggest grocers are touting their Fairtrade credentials ahead of the start of Fairtrade Fortnight next week.

Tesco is to offer customers up to 25 per cent off several of its Fairtrade products, including oranges, mangoes, avocados and tea bags, as well as 20 per cent off Fairtrade roses. The UK’s biggest grocer is also offering buy one, get one half price on Fairtrade cotton items, including Stone Bay men’s polo shirts and v-neck short-sleeve women’s t-shirts.

Sainsbury’s is understood to be on track to double its Fairtrade sales to£130 million for the 12 months to March 22, largely driven by its decision to switch its bananas to 100 per cent Fairtrade.

IGD forecasts that UK consumers will increase their spend on Fairtrade products by an average of 11 per cent over the next five years to a total of£585 million in 2012.

Morrisons claims it is the first of the big four grocers to launch own-brand Fairtrade sweets ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Meanwhile, the Co-operative Group has become the first UK retailer to convert its entire hot beverage category, worth more than£16 million a year, to Fairtrade.

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