Organic produce spending down
Thu, 09 Jul 2009
Shoppers are increasingly turning their backs on ethical goods as they look to cut spending in the recession, a new study has found.
Research conducted by marketing agency Cohn & Wolfe also indicates that this trend is likely to continue after the recession, as 69 per cent of those surveyed said that they will continue to cut back on organic food.
Some 61 per cent will pay less for ethically sourced foods such as Fairtrade when the downturn ends, for financial reasons, the study shows.
Tom MacMillan, executive director at the Food Ethics Council, said the clear message is that shoppers still care about the places and people that provide their food, yet they are feeling the squeeze and being forced to compromise their values.
However, he said consumers should not be forced to choose between sacrificing their ethical stance and preserving their finances.
"Retailers can throw customers a line by easing the exaggerated margins they slap on many 'ethical' products," he added.
According to The Soil Association 2009 Organic Market Report, there has been a sharp fall in sales of certain organic products such as fruit, bread and bakery products, soft drinks and prepared foodstuffs since the start of the downturn.
Food Ethics Council: "Retailers can throw customers a line by easing the exaggerated margins they slap on many 'ethical' products"
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