This report covers the UK retail market for organic food produced according to organic principles and standards. This includes fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products, fish and seafood, eggs, prepared foods and groceries, cereal products, baby and toddler foods and infant formula. It includes organic foods that are fresh, frozen or ambient.

Eight million consumers consider “organic” to be an important issue when deciding what food and drink to buy. This is especially the case for 16-34-year-olds, and offers potential for organic food producers as their numbers are forecast to grow by 4% in the next five years.

This report covers the UK retail market for organic food produced according to organic principles and standards. This includes fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, dairy products, fish and seafood, eggs, prepared foods and groceries, cereal products, baby and toddler foods and infant formula. It includes organic foods that are fresh, frozen or ambient.

Eight million consumers consider “organic” to be an important issue when deciding what food and drink to buy. This is especially the case for 16-34-year-olds, and offers potential for organic food producers as their numbers are forecast to grow by 4% in the next five years.

Grocery multiples are running the risk of losing sales from valuable organic food buyers as 19 million would buy more organic foods if there was greater availability in their local supermarket.

Organic food products that emphasise their local provenance could attract consumers not currently buying organic foods as 56% of consumers consider locally sourced to be more important than organic.

There is potential for future growth in the organic food category as 26% of consumers are buying more organic food and drink now than a year ago.

Greater government support is needed to help consumers better understand how food production impacts on the environment, as 18½ million consumers who currently do not buy organic foods are not taking into account ethical issues when buying food.

Marketing communication campaigns promoting the benefits of organic foods need to include an explanation of the relatively higher cost of organic foods, as 78% of consumers who do not buy organic foods at present feel the extra cost is not justified.