Alternative Organic Retail
Outlets:
The last decade has seen a significant movement of entrepreneurs from orthodox
industries into the organic sector. They constitute one of the driving forces
behind today's organic innovation.
Take, for instance, Fresh &
Wild's remarkable idea of combining an organic shop with a health and leisure
complex. In retrospect, it's obvious: those who consume organics are likely to
be concerned about their health and vice-versa.
Organic restaurants, equally, are gaining a foothold in the marketplace. More
are opening each week, and their popularity shows no sign of diminishing. Organic
fast food, however, is still a long way off - the processing involved in such
an enterprise contradicts organic principles.
There have always been alternatives to the supermarket in buying organic food
- traditionally, "buy direct" schemes have been the second outlet for organic
produce. Not being subject to the size and shape restrictions imposed by supermarkets,
such box schemes and farm shops can help cut waste for the farmer and lower price
for the consumer. Their disadvantage is that produce is generally limited to what
can be grown locally - one of the industry's current problems is trying to increase
the range available.
The logical next step on that ladder is the organic chain-store - a step resisted
as an "if you can't beat them, join them" ideology by those who distrust the supermarkets.
All the same, I feel it is likely that like-minded farmers and co-operatives will
conspire to create some kind of retail outlets.
The input is not restricted to alternative outlets for organic food. New organic
product ideas are constantly flowing onto the market, and older ideas, such as
organic dairy products (produced from animals reared on organic feed) are gaining
popularity. Names like Anchor (butter), HP (baked beans), St. Ivel (cottage cheese),
Hovis and Warburton (both bread) have recently launched organic ranges.
The organic revolution even goes beyond food. Organic cotton has recently made
strong inroads into the conventional cotton market. Organic beer, wine and coffee
are equally becoming fashionable. How long before we see organic pubs and coffee
shops? Organic beauty products are already a reality. And as more leading lights
cross over, more innovations will surely follow.
Related links:
The Soil Association's guide on where to buy organic food. Links to some of
the ideas listed above (box schemes, farmers markets, supermarkets.)
Taste For Life is Sainsbury's food site; it contains an "organic
cafe". This is their catalogue of organic restaurants. Nowhere near exhaustive,
but nonetheless useful.
Back to the archive