Marks & Spencer has made Fairtrade sourced coffee and tea their standard range. Today, they have a fine selection of both ground and instant coffee on their shelves.

Fairtrade certification gives customers an independent guarantee that the farmers who produce the product get a fair price for their crop plus a Fairtrade Premium, which is invested in their community. It’s important to guarantee farmers in developing countries fair terms and a fair deal so they can enjoy a better standard of living.

Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer plc, said: "Our customers have told us they care about how our products are made and we want to help them make Fairtrade a part of their retail habit. I’m therefore delighted to announce we are extending our commitment to Fairtrade by moving our entire range of tea and coffee, which as a 100 percent owned brand retailer we are in a unique position to do so."

He continued: "We have only been able to make these major commitments because of the high ethical standards we have across our supply chain and close partnerships with our suppliers and the farmers they work with".

Marks & Spencer Fairtrade coffee is available in ground and instant versions and there’s also a choice of origins, blends and decaf to suit your tastes.

As with tea, the taste of coffee is also influenced by many factors: the altitude at which it is grown, the mineral content of the soil, the botanical variety of the plant and even the way in which the beans are processed. Marks & Spencer chooses coffees from all around the tropical world including Central and South America, Africa and Asia. They have chosen to work with selected growers who are not only passionate about producing quality coffee, but are also committed to improving the quality of the lives of those who pick the coffee beans.