UK sales of organic wine fall
Sales of organic produce have risen for the first time in four years in the UK, but the increase has not been felt across beers wines and spirits sales at supermarkets, where they tumbled 7.6%.
Total sales UK Organic Market 2013
Sales of organic produce have risen for the first time in four years in the UK, but the increase has not been felt across beers wines and spirits sales at supermarkets, where they tumbled 7.6%.
Overall organic products have grown in popularity, with sales up 2.8% to £1.79 billion in 2013. The latest annual report from the Soil Association shows that independent retailers led the charge, with shoppers looking for local, specialist and online outlets for products not available in the mainstream multiples.
Sales for all types of products through independent retailers increased by 6.9%, with the dairy sector being the stellar performer with growth of 4.4%.
The report states that the the horsemeat scandal pointed consumers back in the direction of organic foods, with organic beef sales up and renewed interest in a wider range of organic foods, as consumers sought greater provenance and traceability.
Jem Gardener, managing director of organic wine supplier and online retailer Vinceremos, said he wasn't surprised by the results.
"I would have expected sales [of BWS] to show either a small increase or decrease or be flat. If multiples are down 7.6% that's more significant. The theory is that when the going gets tough, people with a mild interest in organic desert it to buy on price."
Strong performers such as baby food and meat have a bigger commitment from the public thanks to core nutritional messages as well as food safety scares, he said.
Gardener said that supermarkets were delisting organic products, but that Vinceremos was not benefiting from that nor acquiring new customers as a result.
"We're pretty flat, but there are mildly positive signs out there," he said, with trade customers starting to expand to new sites and take more wines. "There are some new shoots, it's just taking its time," he finished.
Vinceremos lists over 300 organic wines and 80% of its business is to trade accounts.
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