French organics

Organic food in France may be gaining in popularity, according to a recent study by food retail magazine Linéaires, but it is quite costly.

In October, the magazine compared the price of over 600 products in four of the country's largest retailers, Carrefour, Intermarché, Leclerc and Géant Casino.

The results showed that organic products were on average 72 per cent more expensive than their conventional equivalents, according to The Independent.

Fresh fruits and vegetables were found to charge one of the highest premiums, at 90 per cent.

Sales of organics in France are close to €2.6bn, and French market forecaster Institut Precepta expects the market to grow by up to 10 per cent by 2012.