Value of Irish organic retail market hits €110m

The value of the Irish organic retail market is just over €110m, Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food, and the Marine was told at a pre-Christmas meeting. Bord Bia entrepreneurship manager Eileen Bentley said there are more than 40 active organic companies on its client database, all of which can benefit from the marketing and business development support services it provides daily.

“The organic market is approximately 1% of the overall food and drink market in Ireland and, like all aspects of the market, has had significant challenges at retail level in the years of the economic recession,” said Ms Bently.

“However, in 2014 and 2015 the organic market has returned to growth and although not yet back at pre-recession value, year to date growth in 2015 is plus 9%. According to Kantar Worldpanel data, this growth is being driven by more shoppers buying more products more often.”