German organic food sales see steady rise

Berlin [Germany], November 2: German consumers showed an increasing preference for organic food products through the summer, with overall sales rising 2.8 percent on the year to 4.42 billion euros ($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 percent in the third quarter. Over the first nine months of the year, sales had increased by 4.3 percent to 14.08 billion euros, 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 percent and 27.8 percent respectively in the third quarter.
Source: Qatar Tribune