The Co-operative unveils ethical Valentine and Easter lines

The Co-operative, the UK's leading convenience retailer, is strengthening its ethical credentials with the launch of a range of Fairtrade gifts for Easter and Valentine's Day.

The offer includes Fairtrade chocolates in three size variants including a gift-wrapped Ballotin box. Each box contains a contemporary selection of chocolates including a smooth mocha dome made with Ethiopian Fairtrade coffee, a rich and creamy salted caramel truffle, a zesty raspberry swirl and a dark orange spice chocolate made with Sicilian orange oil and exotic spices.

The retailer's chocolate range also includes a box of Fairtrade Marc de Champagne Truffles, made with 65% Fairtrade ingredients.

In addition, the Co-operative is introducing Valentine cup cakes featuring heart-shaped decorations.

For Easter, meanwhile, the retailer is reducing the packaging on its Fairtrade Easter Eggs.

The company's best-selling Fairtrade eggs - one milk and one dark chocolate - are supplied with Fairtrade truffles and feature 28% less packaging. The packaging for the retailer's 270g Fairtrade spring-design boxed chocolates has also been reduced by 17%.

According to the Co-operative, this represents a total packaging saving of 5.13 tonnes.

As well as the Fairtrade eggs, The Co-operative is stocking its popular Fairtrade chocolate bunny for a second year. The hollow bunny is supplied in a gift box.