The UK organic market grew by 7.3% in 2024 to be worth £3.7 billion, according to new data collected in the 2025 Soil Association Organic Market Report, which is published today.
“Exceptional growth” in both value and volume delivered in 2025 means that total organic sales – at £3.7 billion – are now double what they were 10 years ago (2014 – £1.86bn).
Sales increased across every key channel, with the major multiples (+8%), independent retailers (+9%), and hospitality (+6.5%) enjoying a particularly strong year. Encouragingly, 90% of indie food retailers (who account for 14% of all organic sales), anticipate further growth in 2025. Beauty and wellbeing and organic textiles also delivered standout performances, each growing by 11%
Report highlights:
UK organic market increased 7.3% in 2024 topping £3.7 billion following 13 years of consecutive growth
Organic sales through multiple food and drink retailers are worth £2.43 billion up 8%
Unit sales grew four-times more than non-organic food and drink at 4.7% (v 1.2% for non-organic)
Gen Z helping to drive organic growth. Seven out of 10 shoppers seeking organic with younger, lower and middle-income households the most active shoppers
Sales increased across all key channels and product categories with independent retail, non-food and hospitality enjoying particularly strong years
But organic farming remains stuck on 3% of UK farmland – with the market heavily reliant on imports. Soil Association and 12 NGOs call for 10% of land to be farmed organically
Sales of organic in major retailers are worth £2.43bn up 8% and unit sales of organic grew four-times more than non-organic food and drink at 4.7%. In previous years economic challenges reduced volume in categories like organic dairy so a return to strong unit growth in 2024 is a powerful indicator of performance and robust demand.
Soil Association Certification commercial and marketing director Georgia Philips (pictured below) said: “The organic market delivered abundant growth across the board last year out-performing non-organic in both volume and value growth – a key indicator of the health and potential of the market as we look to the future.
“We saw strong growth in all food and drink channels and product categories with outstanding performance in the multiples, independents and home delivery. And the signs are strong that this growth is here to stay with increasing consumer demand, particularly from Gen Z shoppers who are increasingly motivated by healthy and sustainable choices and seeking out organic products.
“But there are still some significant barriers to overcome to see UK organic market share scale as it has done in so many European countries where government and retailer support have been a catalyst for rapid organic growth. That’s why we have joined forces with leading nature and environmental NGOs to make the case for a 10% Government target for land to be farmed organically – which will support a rapid transition with new financial opportunities for farmers and realise the significant health, nature and environmental benefits for the UK.”
Organic thriving
Research by Soil Association Certification in its Organic Market Survey found that over half (50%) of respondents reported a positive year for both volume and value sales, with a fifth (20%) enjoying a significant sales increase.
Organic dairy and produce categories continue to have the highest share of organic sales – accounting for almost half (49%) of all organic sales made through major retail1. These fresh categories are key entry points for organic shoppers seeking natural, minimally processed and healthy options.
Online continues to be a strong performer, with organic twice as likely to be shopped digitally through the grocery multiples with retailers like Ocado over indexing on organic. Home delivery, which has always been an important channel for organic sales – making up 15% of the market – is now back in growth, seeing a 3% uplift.
Generation Z seeking out organic
New research from the Organic Research Centre and UK Organic (with support from If You Care and Sustain) businesses have fresh insights on how consumers are shopping organic. The report shows that 67% (nearly seven out of ten) consumers “intentionally” buy organic, with younger (under 24), lower and middle-income households the most active organic shoppers.
This showed that lower-income shoppers display higher rates of purchasing organic products consistently in multiple product categories. Also, they’re more likely to buy organic products on special occasions and a higher proportion of low-income shoppers said that they “always bought organic” in at least four (or more) product categories. Plus, data from veg box specialists Locavore shows that 28% of its shoppers have an annual household income of under £30,000 and half of those were under £20,000.
Organic farmland declines
Despite another year of growth, there is still a widening gap between the organic market and organic production in England, with a heavy reliance on imports. Organic farmland has remained static for another year4. And the percentage of organic land share has largely halted in England, representing just 3% of the country’s farmed area.
Although government figures for organic farmland in 2024 have not yet been published, data relating to land certified by Soil Association Certification give cause for optimism that organic farming is on the rise, with land in transition to organic almost doubling last year.
Like many nations in Europe the experience in Scotland has demonstrated that with clear support from government an increasing number of farmers are keen to convert to organic. Scotland has seen a strong increase in organic land managed under the Scottish government’s Agri-Environment Climate Scheme since 2021.
Future postive
While there are still pressures on the sector many believe that the time has come for organic in the UK. The Organic Market Survey revealed 70% of respondents predicted a sales increase for the year ahead (up from 60% in 2023).
Philips said: “Almost 18 months ago we unveiled the Organic for All vision to make organic affordable, available and accessible, and to help identify and overcome the blockers to rapid growth by working collaboratively with the whole organic sector. We have made progress in bringing the industry together and engaging with retailers, supply chains and government to learn valuable lessons from Europe and to realise untapped opportunities. Now’s the time for government and retailers to unlock the true potential of organic and turn this vision into reality.”