UK organic market now worth £2.45bn

The UK organic market is now worth £2.45bn, according to the latest figures from the Soil Association Certification’s Organic Market Report. The sector saw strong growth over the last eight years and grew 4.5% in 2019.

The report states that £200m is spent each month on organic food and drink in the UK, and independent retailers enjoyed a 6.5% rise in sales of organic in 2019.

It’s predicted that the market will be worth £2.5bn a year in total by the end of 2020.

Clare McDermott, business development director at Soil Association Certification, said, “With the climate crisis and British farming dominating the headlines, organic is more relevant than ever as a way for shoppers looking for simple choices to reduce their environmental impact. 2019 was another exciting year for organic and 2020 will be a tipping point where organic becomes the go-to choice for shoppers who want to have a sustainable shopping basket.

“Organic certification means people can be sure that what they are buying has been produced to the highest environmental and animal-welfare standards. The remarkable success of organic wine last year is proof that the demand for nature-friendly products is there, and that if retailers stock more organic, shoppers will buy it.”