Organic sector set to boom

09 February 1999

Organic sector set to boom

THE organic sector will continue to grow strongly over the next few years, delegates to the International Food and Drink Exhibition in London were told yesterday (Monday).

European demand for organic produce is set to grow by 25% a year, forecast Nic Lampkin of the University of Wales.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, urged those converting to organic produce to make a long-term commitment and build up a supply and distribution chain.

Market analyst Corporate Intelligence on Marketing recently estimated European organic product sales to be worth more than £3 billion a year.

Sales in the sector were up from £260m in 1997 to an estimated £350m last year, with a target of more than £1 billion by 2002.

• The Herald 09/02/99 page 23