The move is part of a range of new measures being introduced after a UK-wide survey of 100,000 shoppers who took part in the world’s largest consumer poll on ethics.

It comes amid increasing concern over the treatment of poultry in farming, graphically highlighted in recent TV programmes by celebrities such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver.

The survey identified ethical trading, animal welfare and the environment as key issues for Co-operative customers – but climate change came well down their list of ethical priorities.

The Co-operative said it was responding to survey results by converting its entire own-brand hot beverages range to Fairtrade.