Organic food sales continue steady rise in Germany

German consumers showed an increasing preference for organic food products through the summer, with overall sales rising 2.8% on the year to €4.42 billion ($4.95 billion) between July and September.

The German Federation of Organic Food Producers (BÖLW) reported that the share of organic products in the overall German food market reached a record of 8.1% in the third quarter.

Over the first nine months of the year, sales had increased by 4.3% to €14.08 billion, it said.

"The growing organic market is a wake-up call," BÖLW head Tina Andres said. Many consumers rightly see the organic sector as producing food locally and protecting water resources, insects and birds, she added.

Andres called on the government to create favourable conditions for domestic organic production and to encourage businesses to switch to organic farming.

Supermarkets and discount retailers continue to hold the largest market shares for organically produced food and beverages, accounting for 31.3% and 27.8% respectively in the third quarter.

Drug store chains recorded stronger sales growth, bringing their market share to 12.7%.

By contrast, specialist organic food retailers experienced a 2.0% decline in sales, with a market share of 17.3%.

The BÖLW attributed this to an overall reluctance to spend in the economy and to the hot summer. It noted that many people had to travel far to reach shops selling organic produce.

Demand for organic products, which generally cost slightly more, has continued to grow steadily in Germany, with the exception of a slowdown in 2022 caused by exceptionally high inflation at the time.