The UK organic market recorded its fourteenth consecutive year of growth in 2025, rising 4.2% to reach £3.9 billion. Value sales in major retail grew 7%, with organic food and drink unit sales growing at four times the rate of non-organic. 

The figures are contained in the 2026 Soil Association Organic Market Report, which is published today. 

As well as solid growth in organic food and drink in the supermarket channel, highlights from 2025 included 8% growth in organic beauty and wellbeing and an impressive 10% rise in organic textiles sales. But the report also reveals that organic sales in independent retail and home delivery fell in 2025 (down 1.1% and 1% respectively) – two channels that have performed well in recent years.

Retail highlights
Sainsbury’s retained the biggest supermarket share for organic, with Tesco taking second place and Waitrose third. But Ocado, Lidl, M&S. Aldi and Lidl gained ground in 2025, with Ocado (which now lists over 3,000 organic lines) growing its share by 1.2%. 

The slightly disappointing picture for independent retailers is partly explained by sharply rising costs of key food products – like chocolate. More generally, the report acknowledges that the cost-of-living pressures continue to shape consumer spending. Despite challenges, indie retailers remain optimistic about the year ahead. Most (56%) anticipate sales growth, while 44% forecast a stable year. Some of this optimism comes from the fact that they see organic as actively aligning with consumer concerns – highlighting strong demand for products shoppers see as healthier or more sustainable. Retailers say this powerful customer connection is their biggest growth factor. With organic often making up 80% of food lines in natural food retail, the ‘organic opportunity’ is significant and can be maximised with compelling “organic storytelling”. 

Evolving organic consumers
The report shows how organic consumers are continuing to evolve to reflect changing personal priorities. It finds that the organic sector “increasingly chimes with contemporary consumer concerns from health to reduced pesticide use and animal welfare”. And it says that shoppers see organic as a positive way to address their growing concerns over health. Increasing awareness of the debate around ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which is throwing a light on how food is produced, also advantages organic.

Climbing the Organic Pyramid
Dairy and produce claimed the biggest share of organic sales – accounting for over half (59.9%) of all organic sales by volume through major retailers. Baby food and drink, ambient grocery and impulse products make up the remaining five top slots by share. Meanwhile, the ‘Organic Pyramid’ shows how organic is shopped today, from ‘Entry Point’ items like tea, eggs, carrots and eggs, through ‘Scratch Cook Store Cupboard’ (oil, fresh veg, home baking etc), ‘Elevating The Everyday’ (butter & spreads, cereals, coffee, wine and beef etc) to ‘Committed Organic’ (shoppers who prioritise issues such as animal welfare and provenance and delve deeper into fresh meat and fish, deli, cheese and confectionery). 

Removing barriers to growth
The report says that while sales continue to grow, organic’s share of the total UK food and drink market – 1.6% – remains stubbornly low. “In this respect the UK remains the poor man of Europe,” said Lee Holdstock, head of regulatory & trade affairs at Soil Association Certification, at today’s launch event. But he added that the UK remains Europe’s fifth biggest organic market and has “a huge growth opportunity”. Key to unlocking this growth will be demonstrating the economic and environmental case for organic, and showing that organic is a proven solution to supporting long-term UK food and farming resilience. Removing current barriers to growth will also need to be prioritised, especially the “frustrating lack of support for organic farmers” in England, the report adds.

The launch of an Organic Action Plan in Scotland has strengthened calls for similar support in England. This would give farmers the resources and confidence to invest in farming methods that deliver resilience and drive food security. It would also give businesses the opportunity to expand, innovate and give consumers the access to organic that they increasingly demand.