News

07 Feb 2019

Organic food sales continue to grow

Organic food sales are set to hit £2.5 billion next year as consumer trends up market demand. This news comes as 2018 was recorded as the seventh consecutive year for sector growth, with sales up 5.3%.

A significant rise in the home delivery of organic food through online and box schemes is said to have helped boost the organic market by more than 14%.

These industry figures were revealed in the Soil Association Certification’s latest Organic Market Report which placed the sector at its highest ever value of £2.23 billion by the end of 2018.

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The amount of land in conversion for organic also jumped 30% on 2017 figures, with the amount of total organic land having increased for the first time since 2008, by 1.9%.

Finn Cottle, Soil Association Certification trade consultant, said the opportunities for organic ‘go beyond the farm gate’.

“UK organic has a great reputation on a global scale, so securing the right trade deals post-Brexit could bring huge export potential for organic produce.

“As more shoppers turn to organic produce at home and abroad, we are lobbying hard for government to include organic and agroecological approaches to farming in future legislation.”

The report found sales of fresh fruit, salad and vegetables also continued to drive sales in 2018 with a boost of about £15 million, with one in three new applications to become Soil Association Certification certified producers in the 2017-18 financial year from people wanting to produce organic fruit and vegetables.

It said fast-changing consumer diets would have a ‘massive impact’ on the organic food and drink market, with shoppers looking to consume more free-from and plant-based alternatives.

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