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Organic sales still growing - Wednesday 18 June 2008
The new eco shopping report by PricewaterhouseCoopers opens with the statement "are consumers buying sustainability? Yes, and in increasing numbers". It goes on to cite growing 'sustainable sales' in the 4,000 shoppers it surveyed. Among those 4,000, Fairtrade food sales are up from 20 per cent in 2005 to 50 per cent now, and organic and Fairtrade clothes are up from seven per cent to 17 per cent in the same period. In the future, it speculates that as the cost of carbon is factored in, eco products might match 'normal' products on price.
The Soil Association says sales of all organic products in the UK were worth £2 billion in 2007 - up 22 per cent on 2006. It says the growth for 2008 is looking more like ten per cent. So organic sales are slowing - but double-digit growth is still impressive.
Smart Planet (18 June)

Food inflation could get worse - Tuesday 20 May 2008

A prediction from the forecasting group, the Ernst & Young ITEM club, has warned that food inflation - running at 6.6 per cent, according to Government data - could get worse.
Joel Segal, the head of consumer products at the accountancy firm, said: "Higher-end consumers will have to make a trade off. Either they stick to their principles, or - as they batten down the hatches - they may decide that they can live without fair trade or organic in order to avoid cutting back in other areas."
However, no retailer has reported any fall off in organic food, so far. Indeed, sales of free-range eggs and organic chickens rose earlier this year, following a series of television programmes presented by Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef, highlighting poultry welfare.
Clio Turton from the Soil Association said shoppers could save money without ditching their organic favourites by choosing seasonal and local food. Riverford Organic, which runs one of the largest vegetable box schemes, has found that supermarket organic food, on some lines, is over 70 per cent more expensive than the same produce at farmers' markets or local shops.
The Daily Telegraph (20 May, p.6)
Daily Mail (20 May, p.32)

If you have any comments or queries about this section, please contact the food and farming department on 0117 914 2400 or ff@soilassociation.org

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