Less UK consumers are buying organic products amid the recession hitting the country’s economy, food and grocery analysts IGD has claimed.
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The percentage of UK shoppers buying organic food has fallen from 24% to 19%, IGD said today (2 February).
IGD surveyed over 1,000 UK shoppers in December and claimed that the country’s consumers are still supporting ethical products despite the downturn.
According to the survey, 25% of consumers bought Fairtrade products in the previous month, up from 9% in 2006.
The proportion of shoppers buying food made according to higher animal welfare standards has risen from 14% in 2008 to 18%, IGD said.
IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said consumers had become more “price sensitive” but were still looking to buy ethical products.
“Shoppers are not leaving their ethical concerns at home when they go food shopping,” Denney-Finch said. “The aspiration for high quality, more sustainable food remains, but people are scrutinising closely to get the best value for their values.”
Denney-Finch added: “Only organic seems to have suffered a small decline. We believe this is partly due to a swing towards other ethical options, and it is mainly among more casual organic shoppers. A strong core of dedicated organic shoppers remains.”
