Prices to remain the same
Sainsbury's will be the first UK retailer to convert its entire banana range to 100 per cent Fairtrade by July next year, but the retail price will remain the same.

The Fairtrade banana market will double as a result and its market share is expected to increase 75 per cent by July next year.

Sainsbury's sells 1,000 bananas a minute. This move will make the retailer's share of the Fairtrade market larger than all other major UK supermarkets combined.

The retailer's conversion to 100 per cent Fairtrade bananas will create what Sainsbury's calls a 'social premium' of about£4 million next year, which will be returned to the growers and their families, compared to£3 million this year.

Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King said: 'This move to 100 per cent Fairtrade leads the world and really sets the standard for global Fairtrade sourcing.

'We will continue to give our customers great choice at the same price, but from now on every customer will know that buying bananas from Sainsbury's is helping make a difference to a developing country.'

Fairtrade Foundation executive director Harriet Lamb said: 'This is the most momentous decision for the banana market. Sainsbury's sell half a billion bananas a year, therefore the impact on the banana farmers and their communities will be hugely significant.'

Sainbury's customers spend£55 million on Fairtrade products every year and£25 million of this is spent on bananas. The grocer presently sells 40 per cent of all Fairtrade bananas in the UK.

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