Sainsbury’s is today marking the fifth anniversary of its switch to Fairtrade on all its fresh bananas.

The supermarket’s head of own brand, Judith Batchelar, said Sainsbury’s and shoppers had been “helping to make a difference to the lives of producers, their families and communities in developing countries” since the switch in 2007.

According to the Fairtrade Foundation, Sainsbury’s banana sales generate about £3.85m a year in Fairtrade premiums for workers and farmers, on top of the Fairtrade minimum price.

Harriet lamb, the foundation’s chief executive, said the retailer’s 100% Fairtrade bananas stance was a “great boost” for producers.

“The sale of these bananas has provided funding for houses and school computers for the producers – because by selling on Fairtrade terms, the producers earn a premium that they can invest back into their communities,” she said.

Lamb said 10 million Fairtrade bananas were expected to be eaten at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, which kick off on Friday.