Fairtrade sales have hit £1.3bn with all of the major grocers backing the ethical sourcing movement last year.

Morrisons has revealed it will convert all of its sugar to Fairtrade, stocking Tate & Lyle Sugars, which will bring Fairtrade’s share of the UK retail bagged sugar market to 42%.

The Fairtrade Foundation revealed sales were up 12% in 2011.

Today marks the start of Fairtrade Fortnight under the strapline Take a Step for Fairtrade as the foundation looks to convert more shoppers to buy the ethical marked products.

Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and The Co-operative will all be hosting events to mark the two-week promotional period.  

The Co-operative confirmed this week that it will converting all of its bananas to Fairtrade. The share of Fairtrade cocoa, bananas, coffee, tea are all showing growth within the wider retail market.

Faitrade Foundation executive director Harriet Lamb said: “The commercial reality is that forward-thinking companies are showing leadership in committing to Fairtrade, realising that, as well as it being the right thing to do, they need to invest in smallholders, developing better, longer-term relationships, to ensure the future supply of commodities like cocoa, coffee, sugar, tea, fruit and more.”

The foundation is targeting 50% of retail market share.

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