The latest report on the UK market for ethical food and drink shows that sales grew by more than 5% in 2015, to just over £9bn, while the overall food and beverage market shrank by almost 1%
The annual Ethical Consumer Markets Report from the Triodos Bank and Ethical Consumer brings good news for the food and drink sector. This category includes organic, fair trade, vegetarian, free-range, and foods certified as sustainable under various marques, such as Freedom Foods for meat.
In fact Freedom Foods was one of the biggest success stories of the year, with sales up 29% on 2014. Other winners were sustainable fish (up 15%), vegetarian (up 6%) and organic (up 4.5%). Fair trade fared less well, falling by 2.5%. One interesting finding was that local shopping for ethical foods increased substantially (up 11.5%), which may reflect improved availability, as well as the possibility that consumers see support for local enterprises as a facet of ethical shopping.
Read the report here, and find out more about Sustain's policies for a greener and healthier food supply here.
Read the report here, and find out more about Sustain's policies for a greener and healthier food supply here.
Published Friday 13 January 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
