22 June 2007, 18:03 PM
  • The Soil Association has formed an Organic Trade Group, the first open membership group in the UK to represent organic businesses from multiple industries, with a single voice.

The group has been set up to promote sales across organic food, health and beauty and textile markets, whilst maintaining the integrity of organic values and principles, and upholding standards. It aims to share ‘best practice’ and work from a consistent set of commercial objectives and messages that will benefit the members, the environment, farmers, manufacturers, retailers and the wider public.

Helen Taylor, marketing director for the Soil Association, said, “The Soil Association is proud to be providing this opportunity for businesses to be able to speak with one collective voice, to help grow the organic market, to communicate the benefits of organic production and advance organic standards, whilst ensuring the public’s trust in organic products is maintained.”

Patrick O’Flaherty, managing director of RDA Organic, said, “The formulation of the OTG is an incredibly positive step in creating a common platform for the industry to communicate the benefits and developments of the organic sector to trade and consumers alike. I am personally thrilled to be part of the OTG and believe that it is essential for the growth of the organic sector whilst at such a dynamic stage.”

Karen Todd, Asda’s local food sourcing officer, said, “The organic trade group is a fantastic idea. For it to succeed, it will require the buy in from all sectors as well as all accreditation bodies, retailers, manufacturers, farmers and growers.”

The industry-led trade group will be open to all organic businesses, including Soil Association licensees and other certification body licensees. It will be led by an advisory committee and chaired by an industry representative.

The first meeting was held on Tuesday 12th June and involved over 90 businesses involved in organic food, skin and body-care and textile manufacture and retailing, as well as representatives from other organic certification bodies, the Government, finance and marketing organisations. The first Organic Trade Group Committee meeting will take place in early September.

For more information on the first meeting, which took place in London, please go to www.soilassociation.org/organictradegroup.