The popularity of organic food is growing steadily across the UK with sales growing by £2.3m a week as local markets boom, according to the latest figures from the Soil Association.
The statistics just released by the UK organics organisation reveal that sales of organic products are continuing to grow much faster than sales in the non-organic grocery market and last year reached £1.213bn - an 11% increase on the previous calendar year - a growth in sales equating to £2.3m a week.
The Soil Association's Organic Market Report 2005, a comprehensive review of the organic sector, found sales of organic products through box schemes, farm shops and farmers' markets increased by 33% in 2004. Sales through independent shops also rocketed, increasing by 43%.
The supermarket share of the market fell from 81% to 75% but still accounts for £913m in sales.
