Indie retailers saw their organic sales grow by 9%, taking total organic sales in the independent retail channel to just over £518 million. 

The figures are contained in the 2025 edition of the Soil Association Organic Market Report, published this week. The survey reveals that over 70% of independent retailers saw organic sales growth in 2024, compared to just 50% in 2023. And only 15% experienced a sales decline, compared to 50% in 2023.

The most common growth driver was retailers’ belief that organic aligns with consumer concerns. Plus, as cost-of-living pressures eased, shoppers got more proactive about looking after their health. In fact, health is one of the top three reasons customers shop the organic category. That translates into more sales for indie health stores around trending, functional products like chia seeds, kombucha and tumeric.

The report acknowledges that this growth hasn’t come without challenges. Living wage increases, plus price competition from retailers, added pressure. The sector responded by focusing on efficiency and innovation.

“Our response has been to ask how we offer value that’s not just about cost,” said Phil Haughton from Bristol-based retailer Better Food at the 2025 Oxford Real Farming Conference. “Our theme for 2025 is ‘less is more’.”

Dan Monks of Manchester’s Unicorn Grocery added: “To keep food affordable, generate sales and pay decent wages we consolidated ranges and simplified processes. Anything that took extra time we identified… we stripped things back while we kept a super clear focus on our ethical mission.”

We need 1000s of indie food retailers – so, how do we get there?