Spins study says natural, organic sales remain steady due to consumer loyalty

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. Natural retailers continue to experience strong consumer loyalty and sales momentum despite the economic slowdown, according to the results of recent research released by Spins, an information and service provider for the natural products industry.

Even as natural products become increasingly available in the marketplace by way of new distribution channels, such as pharmacy and mass-market retailers, consumers continue to strengthen their relationship with natural retailers.

In the latest 12 weeks ended Oct. 4, natural and organic product growth rates from natural retailers were more than triple those of conventional with an aggregate sales growth of 10 percent for natural retailers.

Conventional food retailers experienced growth of 3.2 percent during the same period.

Unit sales mirrored this trend, according to Spins, with continued growth in natural retailers while flat in conventional food. Focusing on the organic element of the natural industry (products with more than 70 percent of organic content), natural retailers are also leading the trends with a 13.4 percent sales improvement versus the year-ago period compared with a growth of 4.9 percent at conventional food.