Organic pricing in major supermarkets has been criticised as inconsistent in recent media reports.
A survey in The Guardian said for some items prices differed greatly between organic and standard options. For example, Tesco charged 70p for both organic and standard loaves, while Sainsbury’s charged £1.09 for organic bread, more than twice the price of its 47p standard bread.
Asda was the cheapest supplier overall. Six of their organic eggs cost £1.15 compared to Sainsbury’s £1.49, Tesco’s £1.45 and Waitrose’s £1.55. But it’s organic stock was more limited than other chains, especially in the meat department.
Waitrose proved the most expensive for all items. The store said its commitment to supporting suppliers and farmers justified the costs. It also provided greater traceability than other stores.
But strictly organic retailers such as the Soil Association’s organic retailer of the year, Abel & Co, are still more informative in this respect, said the study.
