Demand for Organic Food ‘is Increasing’

By Fiona McIlwaine Bigginsnewsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

The popularity of organic food is growing steadily across the UK with sales growing by [Pound]2.3m a week as local markets boom, according to the latest figures from the Soil Association.The statistics just released by the UK organics organisation reveal that sales of organic products are continuing to grow much faster than sales in the non-organic grocery market and last year reached [Pound]1.213bn- an 11% increase on the previous calendar year – a growth in sales equating to [Pound]2.3m a week.The Soil Association’s Organic Market Report 2005, a comprehensive review of the organic sector, found sales of organic products through box schemes, farm shops and farmers’ markets increased by 33% in 2004. Sales through independent shops also rocketed, increasing by 43%.The supermarket share of the market fell from 81% to 75% but still accounts for [Pound]913m in sales.The report’s key findings include:An encouraging widening of the appeal of organic food and farming beyond high earners and the middle classes, with more than half those in lower income groups now saying they buy some organic products. Despite a static birth rate, a six per cent growth in the UK market for organic baby foods between 2003 and 2004, compared to 1.5% for non-organic baby foods over the same period.Organic baby meals account for more than half of the total baby meals market, with a sales value of [Pound]51m in 2004, compared to [Pound]49m for non-organic baby meals A worrying 1% increase in the contribution made by imports to the volume of organic food and drink consumed in the UK – the key factor in this being a switch away from UK- produced organic pork, beef and salad by some leading supermarkets.Patrick Holden, the Soil Association’s director, said: “This report shows that the popularity of organic food is growing steadily and the organic market has a bright future.”Increasing numbers of people are eager to buy local to obtain the freshest organic food possible and to cut down on the environmental pollution caused by ‘food miles’, which is good news for small local producers. “Some supermarkets are responding positively to the appetite for local food, but others are choosing to fly in the face of consumer expectations and government targets.”Imported beef and pork may be cheaper, but they mean increased food miles and are often produced to lower animal welfare standards.”