Shopping behavior: Customers are shopping more frequently in organic stores again

In view of more stable prices, consumers are buying their food more often in organic stores again this year. Specialist retailers are expecting an increase in sales of more than four percent for the current year, as the Federal Association of Natural Foods (BNN) announced. “More and more customers are finding their way to organic stores again,” said BNN managing director Kathrin Jäckel.

The organic markets recorded high demand, particularly in the months of February, July, August and October. Sales rose by at least 4.5 percent in these months compared to the previous year. The strongest growth occurred in October at 7.4 percent.

Slump in demand largely overcome

As a result of strong inflation due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, organic retailers recorded a decline in sales in 2022 for the first time since the turn of the millennium.

Demand stabilized somewhat last year. Nevertheless, many customers preferred to buy at discounters or resorted to cheaper organic products in other stores. Significant growth is expected again this year. “This development shows that organic specialist retailers are well prepared to continue positive sales development in 2025,” said the BNN.

Discounters are still ahead

But when it comes to market shares in the overall trade in organic products, specialist shops are lagging behind. This emerges from a current study by the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University. Accordingly, the specialist retailer’s share of sales in the overall organic market fell from 18.5 percent to just under 13 percent between 2020 and 2024.

According to the analysis, more than a third of total sales still come from discount stores, and another third comes from ordinary supermarkets with organic products. Drugstores were able to increase their share of organic retail from almost 13 to more than 16 percent between 2020 and 2024.