Organic food sales in Italy reached €5 billion in the year to July 2022, accounting for 3.5% of global organic retail sales, according to a study by Nomisma.
Out-of-home consumption of organic products grew by 53% year-on-year to €1.1 billion, the study found, while at-home consumption dropped by 0.8% to €3.9 billion, due to the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
In terms of the channels in which consumers buy organic products, specialty stores have seen a decline (-8% to €816 million); while both modern retail (+0.4% to €2.27 billion) and other channels (+5% growth to €761 million) saw growth.
Organic sales in the modern distribution channel should reach €2.3 billion in 2022 (+0.4% compared to 2021), according to Nomisma.
Grocery Sales
Sales of organic products in hypermarkets and supermarkets reached €1.4 billion as of July 2022 (-2%), followed by discount stores with €272 million (+14%) and independent retailers with €159 million (-4.6%).
Also growing were organic product sales in drugstores (+5.7%), although they remain a small portion of the overall grocery picture.
E-commerce also continued to grow, but at a slower pace than last year (+5%), accounting for €78 million in sales.
The most sold organic products in the modern distribution channel fall under the ambient grocery category (pasta, baked goods, canned goods, sauces), accounting for 57%, followed by fresh products (cheeses, meats, yogurt, eggs) with 20% and fruit and vegetables (13%).
The top selling individual products were eggs, fruit-based jams and spreads, and milk substitutes.
Some 89% of Italian households bought organic products at least once in the past year, the study found.
© 2022 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest A-Brands news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
