consumer research by Irish food body Bord Bia highlights a return to growth in the retail value of organic food in Ireland for the first time since 2010.The Bord Bia study, funded by the Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine and carried out by Ipsos MRBI, values annual retail sales of organic food at €99.1 million, up from €97 million last year.
Retail sales of organic food reached a record high of €106 million in 2010.
Almost 60% of consumers surveyed purchased organic produce in the last six months, according to the report.
Some 73% of current purchasers claim that a ‘local organic’ product proposition would increase their interest in buying organic produce.
Over a quarter of organic buyers reported that the amount of organic food they have purchased in the last year has increased, with two-thirds reporting no change in consumption.
Meanwhile, two-thirds of all organic shoppers would like to see organic range located in the one place in stores.
While organic products are more likely to be used for regular eating occasions among consumers, use for ‘special occasions’ is growing e.g. 66% purchase organic for a romantic meal at home and over 50% will purchase organic for dieting and detoxing.
There are currently 1,721 registered organic operators in Ireland with over 52,000 hectares of land is being used to produce organic food.
