Organic and bio are driving food consumption in Italy, with sales reaching €2.5 billion in the first half of 2015, which represents a 16 per cent growth on the same period in 2014.
This segment accounts for 2.5 per cent of total food sales, a figure six times higher in comparison to the early 2000s.
The data comes from the Coop Report 2015, prepared by the National Association of Consumer Cooperatives with contributions from Ref. Ricerche, Nielsen, Gfk, Demos, Doxa and the Mediobanca Research Department.
The turnover from hypermarkets and supermarkets exceeds €800 million, while stock of organic and bio products has grown by 13 per cent in the last twelve months. Almost €1 billion passes through specialty stores, especially widespread in large urban centers.
Besides food products, more and more household and hygiene products are also being purchased, as well as clothing and home textiles.
The number of organic and bio shops in Italy has increased by 16 per cent in the last five years, with their their number reaching 1,400 this year.
© 2015 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. To subscribe to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine, click here.
