Ismea: 2010, a year of growth for organic consumptions in Italy

<div style="text-align: justify;">Another positive year for
organic food consumption in Italy has passed by. ISMEA has elaborated the data on domestic purchases
of the organic packaged&nbsp; food sector, which increased by 11.6% on an annual basis. A trend
confirmed by all the monitored references, except ice-creams, alcoolic beverages and dietetic food.
The best performance was given by the diary products (+13.2% in relation to 2009) and for biscuits,
sweets and snacks together (+13.5%). Positive dynamics for organic fruit and vegetable consumptions
(+4.2%) and eggs (+7.2%) were recorded too. Double-digit growth also for pasta and rice (+22.3%) and
sausages (+56.4%). Less relevant, but always sustained, the growth of oils (+10.2%), bread and
substitutes (+12.3%) and honey (+8%). Concerning the geographic distribution, the highest increase
was recorded&nbsp; in the North-East and central Regions, even if North-West remains the area with
the highest incidence on the national 'organic' expenditure. As always, organic consumption sees 70%
of purchases concentrated in Northern Italy. Concerning distribution chain, the highest growth was
the one of retail sales (+29.3%), but sales in hypermarkets have increased (+18.2%) too. In the
supermarkets the increase was more modest: +3.7%.&nbsp; <br></div><br><a href="../share/img_lib_files/1267_1255_ismea_news_biologico_2011_1.pdf">The Ismea document</a> (in
Italian)<br><br>Source: Ismea&nbsp;