Cafédirect co-founder Equal Exchange is launching a range of eight Fairtrade and organic coffees sourced from women farmers.

The range, which carries a flash saying "coffee grown by women", launches next month in dark, ­medium, decaf, espresso, Colombian, Ugandan and Italian variants, plus one branded as "Women Farmers Grew This Coffee". The packs will retail from £4.10 to £4.49 (227g) and £8.99 to £9.79 (500g).

Equal Exchange, which has altered its supply chain and is now sourcing 12 of its 22 products from women farmers in Peru, Nicaragua, Colombia and Uganda, said the innovation would help progress the Fairtrade concept.

"Fairtrade is ready for ­innovation", said Equal Exchange MD Andy Good. "We think this venture will be a shot in the arm for our coffee women do the farming and this will draw attention to that."