Yorkshire Post Newspapers is backing national and local Fairtrade Fortnight by stocking Fairtrade goods in the restaurant and vending machines at its Leeds headquarters.

YPN’s Yorkshire Evening Post has been publicising local Fairtrade events throughout the Fair Trade Fortnight which ran up until the weekend.

And the company believes it is the first newspaper publisher to take such an initiative.

Regional managing director Chris Green said: "The Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post are publicising events taking place over the fortnight, but we wanted to take our commitment one step further, which is why the restaurant and vending machines here at the YPN headquarters building in Leeds are now offering a range of Fairtrade options to our 700 staff.

“There is a growing awareness amongst the shopping public that they can make a difference to producers in the world's poorest countries by simply buying goods bearing the Fairtrade mark. I'm sure our team here at YPN will do their bit."

Peter Lazenby, father of chapel of the National Union Union of Journalists at the Yorkshire Evening Post, who put the Fairtrade proposal to management, said: “Many trades union branches have committed themselves to supporting and promoting Fairtrade.

”We believe Yorkshire Post Newspapers is the first regional newspaper group to do so and we hope many more will follow suit - both inside and outside Johnston Press’s 300 titles.”

Catering manager Adelle Lewis said: “More and more people are supporting Fairtrade in the knowledge that by making a small change to their buying habits they can guarantee a fair income and decent working conditions to people in Third World countries who produce these goods.”

Yorkshire Post Newspapers catering supervisor Sue Nichols (left), YPN managing director Chris Green and catering manager Adelle Lewis