Soil Association Certification’s Organic Market Report 2025 reveals 2024 saw exceptional growth in the UK’s organic market – in both value and volume.
The market significantly outperformed non-organic with total sales of £3.7bn, double what they were just 10 years ago (£1.86bn in 2024).
Sales increased across every key channel, with the major multiples, independent retailers, non-food and hospitality enjoying a particularly strong year.
Sales of organic in major retailers are worth £2.43bn – up 8% – and unit sales of organic grew four times more than non-organic food and drink at 4.7%.
In previous years economic challenges reduced volume in categories like organic dairy, so a return to strong unit growth in 2024 is a powerful indicator of performance and robust demand.
‘The organic market delivered abundant growth across the board last year out-performing non-organic in both volume and value growth – a key indicator of the health and potential of the market as we look to the future.
‘We saw strong growth in all food and drink channels and product categories with outstanding performance in the multiples, independents and home delivery. And the signs are strong that this growth is here to stay with increasing consumer demand, particularly from Gen Z shoppers who are increasingly motivated by healthy and sustainable choices and seeking out organic products.
‘But there are still some significant barriers to overcome to see UK organic market share scale as it has done in so many European countries where government and retailer support have been a catalyst for rapid organic growth. That’s why we have joined forces with leading nature and environmental NGOs to make the case for a 10% Government target for land to be farmed organically – which will support a rapid transition with new financial opportunities for farmers and realise the significant health, nature and environmental benefits for the UK.’
GEORGIA PHILIPS
Soil Association Certification commercial and marketing director
Research by Soil Association Certification in its Organic Market Survey found that over half (50%) of respondents reported a positive year for both volume and value sales, with a fifth (20%) enjoying a significant sales increase.
Organic dairy and produce categories continue to have the highest share of organic sales, accounting for almost half (49%) of all organic sales made through major retail.
These fresh categories are key entry points for organic shoppers seeking natural, minimally processed and healthy options.
‘We have seen strong growth in our sales of organic bananas in 2024, driven by a growing customer demand and supported by retailer availability and promotional activity. Approximately 11% of all of our banana sales are organic and Fairtrade – meeting a growing consumer need for assurances around health, sustainability and supply chain fairness.’
JOHN HOPKINS
Fyffe’s CEO
Mirroring the growth in the supermarkets, other channels saw powerful performances too. The independent retail channel rose 9% to top £518m – fuelled by customers seeking a unique in-store experience, quality products and access to more local food.
Online continues to be a strong performer, with organic twice as likely to be shopped digitally through the grocery multiples with retailers like Ocado over indexing on organic.
Home delivery, which has always been an important channel for organic sales – making up 15% of the market – is now back in growth, seeing a 3% uplift.
After a difficult couple of years, foodservice saw a 6.5% sales increase, largely thanks to a fall in inflation. It was also a strong year for the non-food sector too, with organic beauty and textiles both up 11%.
‘We’ve seen growth of organic vegetable sales across all of our retail customers. It is pleasing to see that there is a renewed retailer interest in Organic September and many retailers remain committed to driving organic growth. For us, ensuring consistent levels of supply for on shelf availability, planned promotional activity and working closely with our customers has been key to directing more people to purchasing organic veg.’
JOE ROLFE
RB Organics managing director
New research from the Organic Research Centre and UK Organic (with support from If You Care and Sustain) businesses have fresh insights on how consumers are shopping organic.
The report shows that 67% (nearly seven out of 10) consumers ‘intentionally’ buy organic, with younger (under 24), lower and middle-income households the most active organic shoppers.
This showed that lower-income shoppers display higher rates of purchasing organic products consistently in multiple product categories.
Also, they’re more likely to buy organic products on special occasions and a higher proportion of low-income shoppers said that they ‘always bought organic’ in at least four (or more) product categories.
Plus, data from veg box specialists Locavore shows that 28% of its shoppers have an annual household income of under £30,000 and half of those were under £20,000.
‘Cost of living pressures haven’t gone anywhere. But, now accustomed to higher prices, consumers are prioritising other areas, such as health and the environment. As these priorities become ever-more embedded in shoppers’ buying habits – the future looks bright for organic.’
GEORGIA PHILIPS
Soil Association Certification commercial and marketing director
Despite another year of growth, there’s still a widening gap between the organic market and organic production in England, with a heavy reliance on imports.
Organic farmland has remained static for another year and the percentage of organic land share has largely halted in England, representing just 3% of the country’s farmed area.
Although government figures for organic farmland in 2024 have not yet been published, data relating to land certified by Soil Association Certification give cause for optimism that organic farming is on the rise, with land in transition to organic almost doubling last year.
‘We have already seen promising signs as the land in conversion with the Soil Association Certification has doubled since January 2024 as government and shoppers invest in organic. Welcome news and real signs of progress after government figures for 2023 showed that the percentage of organic land share had remained static at around 3% in England for the last decade.’
GEORGIA PHILIPS
Soil Association Certification commercial and marketing director
Like many nations in Europe the experience in Scotland has demonstrated that with clear support from government an increasing number of farmers are keen to convert to organic.
Scotland has seen a strong increase in organic land managed under the Scottish government’s Agri-Environment Climate Scheme since 2021.
‘The significant increase in organic land managed under the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) is a testament to Scotland’s commitment to sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. As at the end of 2024, we’ve seen over 49,000 additional hectares of converted and maintained organic land under AECS management, representing a remarkable 69% increase since 2021.’
MAIRI GOUGEON
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
While there are still pressures on the sector many believe that the time has come for organic in the UK.
The Organic Market Survey revealed 70% of respondents predicted a sales increase for the year ahead (up from 60% in 2023).
‘Almost 18 months ago we unveiled the Organic for All vision to make organic affordable, available and accessible, and to help identify and overcome the blockers to rapid growth by working collaboratively with the whole organic sector. We have made progress in bringing the industry together and engaging with retailers, supply chains and government to learn valuable lessons from Europe and to realise untapped opportunities. Now’s the time for government and retailers to unlock the true potential of organic and turn this vision into reality.’
GEORGIA PHILIPS
Soil Association Certification commercial and marketing director
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