The Cooperative will today become the first Scotland-wide retailer to stock Malawi's Kilombero rice. The rice, previously available through fair trade shops, schools and church groups, will now be listed in 79 Co-op stores across Scotland. It is ethically sourced by Paisley-based Just Trading Scotland, which works with a smallholders’ cooperative to help them improve yields, install irrigation wells, improve homes, and pay for children's education. Every 90 kilos of rice sold will pay for a child’s secondary education for a year.

Malawian High Commissioner Kena Mphonda visited the new Cooperative store at Broomhill in Glasgow to welcome the initiative.