Sainsbury’s has claimed that it is the world’s largest retailer of Fairtrade products, as retailers gear up for Fairtrade Fortnight next week.

Sainsbury’s said almost £1 in every £4 spent on fair trade in the UK is spent in Sainsbury’s, and its Fairtrade sales have increased to £218m in the past year.

The grocer stocks about 800 Fairtrade products and will add further ranges in time for Fairtrade Fortnight, which starts on February 22. All its bananas are Fairtrade, as is its own-brand coffee and sugar.

Sainsbury’s customer director Gwyn Burr said that despite the current focus on price and value, “shoppers clearly want to know that producers are getting a fair deal too”.

Other retailers are also gearing up for Fairtrade Fortnight. Several fashion players are launching their latest ranges in Fairtrade cotton.

These include Dorothy Perkins launching a range of T-shirts and blouses and Marks & Spencer’s new Per Una nightwear range. Tesco is debuting a full range of men’s and women’s knitwear, while Warehouse is introducing a collection including dresses, boleros, camis and trousers.

The Fairtrade Foundation has also launched a campaign to try to make fair-trade fashion more aspirational. Models including Lisa Butcher, Laura Bailey and Amber Rowan are fronting the campaign.

They will model a fashion collection put together by stylist Rachel Fanconi to be displayed during Fairtrade Fortnight and tour key fashion colleges.

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