The Co-operative Group has been the UK’s most ethical company over the past 25 years, according to a survey.

Readers of Ethical Consumer magazine voted The Co-operative ahead of retailers Lush, Traidcraft, John Lewis and People Tree, the bank Triodos and the food and household product wholesaler Suma.

The organic farm Riverford and the energy companies Ecotricity and Good Energy also made the top 10.

Ethical Consumer co-director Tim Hunt said: “Over the past 25 years The Co-op has been at the forefront of the ethical consumer movement.

“From its supermarket, which was the first retailer to stock only Fairtrade bananas and ban products from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to the pioneering ethical policy of its bank, The Co-operative Group has been a genuine ethical trailblazer.

“Many commentators have had their knives out for The Co-op in recent months. Ethical Consumer’s readers however are able to see through the spin and realise that despite the problems The Co-op remains an ethical business at heart - at least for the time being.”

The multi-national food giant Nestle was voted the least ethical company over the past 25 years in the same survey.

Others companies making up the 10 least ethical companies were Monsanto, Amazon, Shell, Tesco, Barclays, Exxon, Walmart, Coca-Cola and Primark.