The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has prepared a comparative report analyzing supply and prices of the products ecological (organic, eco or bio) available in the main supermarket chains in Spain, paying special attention to the basics of the shopping basket and own white brands.
The study concludes that Alcampo, El Corte Inglés, Carrefour and Eroski are the four large chains that have made the most commitment in recent years to strengthening their range of products and food with organic, fair trade or sustainability certification, largely thanks to launching and promoting their own white brands in this category. According to the organization, this allows the consumer to make a general basic purchase in these centers only with organic products, but the prices are still very high.
This is the other fact that the report highlights, since it states that an ecological purchase is 54% more expensive, on average, than the leading brands, and three times more than non-organic white brands from the same supermarkets, especially in drugstore and personal care products. Organic fresh food tends to cost twice as much on average.
Mercadona is not interested in organic
Behind the four chains mentioned, the OCU also highlights the ecological offer of other companies such as Gadis, Condis, Consum, Aldi, Caprabo or BMwith 25% basic organic products, while MAS, Lidl and Dia add up to at least 15%, on average.
At the bottom of the list appears Mercadonawhich has hardly ever opted for organic products and does not have them among its popular white brands; The OCU describes as “surprising” that the Roig chain continues “without offering a single basic product with an organic certificate”, despite being the leader in market share.
By launching their own organic private labels, the price of these products in general supermarkets is reduced, but they are still more expensive than the conventional ones.
The increase in sales of organic food in recent years has been in line with the rise of trends for healthier eating and more sustainable lifestyles, despite the fact that the certificate echo either organic the only thing that ensures is that the regulations in force are complied with in order to obtain the corresponding seal.
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