Organic advocates have long insisted that, away from the multiple supermarket sector, sales of organic produce are far healthier than the oft-quoted – and invariably gloomy – statistics suggest.

The argument goes that while multiples may have reduced shelf space, consumers are still seeking out organic produce via farm shops, box schemes and greengrocers.

Abel & Cole’s performance is on a healthy upward curve (page 6), and analysts are saying that this unsaturated market still has plenty of growth potential. A focus on customer satisfaction and quality produce is at the heart of Abel & Cole’s offer, and it has enough differentiation to justify the additional spend.

With Ocado and Tesco coming into the market recently, it backs up the belief that organic sales can bounce back by having a strong, well-marketed offer with a clear point of difference. The sector has had an absolute battering with a succession of headlines declaring the end of organics over recent years, so it’s nice to see some more positive stories coming through.