Organic: in the new Ismea report, supermarkets confirm their leadership
Organic: in the new Ismea report, supermarkets confirm their leadership
- Information
The report Organic in Figures 2025 photographs the evolution of the sector in 2024, confirming its centrality in the Italian agri-food sector and the consolidation of Italy's national primacy in European organic farming.
Supermarkets come first and discount stores post double-digit growth
On the domestic market, first among sales channels, according to NielsenIQ, it is the supermarket that, also in 2024, is the leading channel, with turnover now close to 1,5 billion euros and an increase of more than 43 million compared with 2023 (+3,1%). This trend is driven particularly by growth in fresh food, where organic fruit and vegetable sales (+22,3 million euros) and egg sales (+9,1 million) stand out.
Hypermarkets are also growing, with checkout turnover of 830 million euros (+4,1% compared with 2023) and 21% in household purchases.
Ranking third among large-scale retail channels is the discount store, which is consolidating its expansion, reaching 590 million euros, equal to 15% of the sector's total expenditure, and an annual change of +10,2%.
In absolute terms, this figure brings the channel close to traditional retail. The latter, although accounting for 20,4% in value of total organic sales, records a further contraction (-2,6%) and loses more than one percentage point of 2023.
Despite this, normal trade continues to be a reference point for certain specific organic products, such as milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, and honey.
The increases recorded by free-service outlets are slight, reaching 293,8 million euros (+0,5%).
Volumes higher than values
As regards consumption, in 2024 household spending on organic products reaches 3,96 billion euros, with an increase of 2,9% compared with 2023, while volumes rise by 4,3%, confirming a generally more moderate price trend than that of conventional equivalents.
“As a result of these positive trends – the report, published on 18 December 2025, states – the share of organic products in total agri-food expenditure is growing again, reaching 3,6%”.
This is helped by generally stable prices for most organic fruit and vegetable products. The exception is potatoes, which reflect the trend observed at the origin stage, recording, on 2023, an increase of 15,5% for the organic product, while for the conventional product it falls to +5,5%.
Among processed products, the average price of dairy products, the pasta and gnocchi category, and rice remains stable, while the shelf price of EVO oil continues to rise for the fourth consecutive year, with an increase, in 2023, more pronounced for the conventional product (+30,5%) than for the organic one (+24,1%).
More organic farms and more land
Good news also for Sau, which in Italy exceeds the 2,5 million hectares (+2,4% of 2023), representing 20,2% of the national total, a share that brings the target of 25% set by EU strategies for 2030 ever closer.
Our peninsula confirms its position among the European leaders for this indicator, with values decidedly higher than those of the other major continental agricultural economies (Spain 12,3%, Germany 11,5%, France 9,9%).
In the livestock sector, too, the number of organic animals shows an overall positive trend, in contrast to conventional livestock farming, with particularly significant shares for goats, sheep and cattle.
At territorial level, the South accounts for 58% of the national organic Sau, followed by Central Italy (23%) and the North (19%); but it is the North that is advancing at the fastest pace (+8,4% compared with +3,5% in the South).
Last but no less important, the growth in organic operators 2024 reaches 97.160 units (+2,9% compared with 2023). The increase mainly concerns farms and specialised producers, while, in the medium term, the model of businesses integrating production and processing is becoming stronger, providing a further sign of the sector's progressive development.
Go to the Ismea Organic in Figures Report 2025
Related articles:
Agri-food: Ismea takes stock at Masaf
This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.
