Overseas markets lead as 83% of UK households buy organic

November 5, 2014

Overseas markets are leading the way with 83% of UK households buying organic

New figures released by Nielsen and the Soil Association show that global consumers are leading the way for purchasing organic produce, especially in the UK where 83% of consumers now buy organic in some form.

The international consumer demand for organic produce over non-organic is showing no signs of slowing down either.

This is great news for New Zealand organic exporters as the UK remains our largest export market followed by the US and Australia. An impressive 45% of Americans say they would buy organic produce if they could afford it and it was more accessible.

The latest Soil Association and Nielsen figures show that consumers are more aware about what they eat and where their food comes from then they were even a few years ago. Shoppers are actively looking for certified organic labels to make sure what they are buying is both environmentally friendly and nutritious.

Mark Houghton-Brown, Chair of BioGro New Zealand, said, “global consumers are increasingly demanding organic products, which is a significant opportunity for NZ, if producers and exporters can listen to these signals from international markets and get themselves certified.

“Increased innovation and accessibility to organic products is an important driver of sales growth, with online retailers especially prominent.”

In the future, NZ exporters especially in the food industry who are not operating organically will find it harder to gain international market access.

BioGro is leading the way in providing overseas market access for its licensees and certified members.

ENDS

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