According to TNS Worldpanel data seen by the Financial Times that sales of organic produce in Sainsbury’s and Tesco fell by 3.8 percent and 1.3 percent respectively in the three months to August 10. The Sales of organic goods in supermarkets are struggling and suggesting that shoppers are ready to sacrifice their green credentials in favor of cheaper food.
According to the most recent data, spending on organic produce in the whole market has fallen by 19 percent this year from £100m to £81m. Asda and Morrisons fared better with 3.1 percent and 24.6 percent growth, although their cheaper end of the grocery market in coming from a lower base. Figures demonstrate the way in which consumers are swapping their allegiances as they seek cheaper prices.
Marketing manager for organics at Sainsbury, Sophie Firth, said conceded sales were “flat and have started to dip off” and this was a symptom of the time. She also said “people are still buying core items but I guess few people are buying into organics as a whole.”
Organic agriculture is inherently more expensive than intensive agriculture and there is evidence consumers are not willing to pay the extra cost. Among the hardest hit have been sales of organic eggs which fell 18 per cent in the four weeks to the end of August.

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