The Co-operative Group unveiled its selection of seasonal offerings last week and introduced Fair-trade Christmas bakery products in response to customers’ ethi- cal concerns.

The range includes Fairtrade Christmas puddings and mince pies, chocolates and truffles. The mince pies selection also compri-ses Truly Irresistible mini mince pies, deep-fill buttercrust mince pies and organic mince pies.

Jill McCann, category development manager of bakery products at The Co-operative Group, said: "We have developed Fairtrade mince pies for the first time.

"We have found that customers increasingly expect to see our concern for the community and commitment to ethical trading as well as the environment. This is why we have increased our Fairtrade and organic offerings, which are also available in gift boxes."

For every purchase of The Co-operative Group’s Christmas sandwiches, which includes a Brie, Grape and Cranberry version, 10p will be donated to charity. This is part of the group’s pledge to raise up to £1.5 million for The Children’s Society to help vulnerable children.

Christmas desserts include: the Truly Irresistible Christmas pudding, matured for six months; the Free-from Christmas pudding, made with no dairy, gluten, nuts or wheat; the Fairtrade Christmas pudding; sherry trifle; and a Truly Irresistible iced Christmas cake. Confectionery items include the Fairtrade Truly Irresistible chocolate truffles and Belgian biscuits.