Retail sales of Fairtrade products, led by bananas and coffee, have risen to a record high of £700m as big companies get behind the certification label to underscore their commitment to ethical trading.

Fairtrade sales were up 47 per cent in 2008 on a year earlier. Companies that have boosted their commitment to Fairtrade products include the Starbucks, the coffee chain, J Sainsbury and Waitrose.

Financial Times 19/2/09