The coronavirus pandemic is leading to a surge in demand for organic and sustainable foods.
Research Ecovia Intelligence (formerly known as Organic Monitor) shows retailers across the globe are experiencing hefty sales increases for organic products that is expected to continue in the coming years.
Online retailers are reporting the highest sales growth. Whole Foods Market, the world’s largest natural food retailer, has started limiting the number of its online grocery customers because of unprecedented demand.
In the UK, Abel & Cole reported a 25 per cent increase in sales orders, while Riverford is reporting a demand surge. Nourish Organic, an Indian online retailer, experienced a 30 per cent sales rise last month.
Physical retailers are also benefiting from emergency measures introduced by various governments.
Organic and health food shops that have remained open in many countries are attracting new shoppers, while existing customers are spending more. In France, some organic food shops are reporting sales increases of over 40 per cent.
“Covid-19 is raising consumer awareness of the relationship between nutrition and health. Consumers are buying more organic and healthy foods as they look to boost their personal immunity,” Ecovia said.
However, the surge in demand is bringing supply issues. The organic food industry is now global with international supply networks that are coming under pressure.
“Many of the raw materials used by European and North American organic food companies are produced in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
“Lockdowns are disrupting supply chains. For instance, India is a major source of organic tea, herbs, spices and related ingredients. Emergency measures introduced in March have halted food processing and exports,” Ecovia states.
The company expects demand for organic and sustainable foods to remain strong after consumer fears subside.
It says previous food and health scares caused an initial sales spike followed by sustained demand for organic products. For instance, the BSE crisis in 2000 escalated demand for organic meat products in Europe; sales remained buoyant in subsequent years. Similarly, SARS led to a spike in demand for organic foods in China (and Asia) in 2004.
And the melamine scandal in 2008 bolstered demand for organic baby food in China. Within a few years, the Chinese market for organic infant formula became the largest in the world.
Organic foods were first introduced on a large scale in the early 1990s. It took over 15 years for global organic product sales to reach US$50bn in 2008. Ten years later, they surpassed the US$100bn mark.
“With Covid-19 changing the way we shop and eat, the next leap to US$150bn could be within the next five years,” Ecovia said.
