• Arla Foods Amba leads the organic segment in Sweden with a value share of 19.2% in 2023, followed by Nordquist & Söner with a value share of 6.0% and Midsona AB with a share of 3.1%. 
• Despite being only the 93rd largest country by population, Sweden ranked 14th globally in market size, with a value of US$1,003.2 million in 2023, indicating that per capita demand for organic products is among the highest in the world.

• Organic products in Sweden represent roughly 1.6% of global demand and just under 30.3% of the market in the Scandinavian region, recording a per capita expenditure of US$95.2 in 2023. 
• The Swedish market for Organic Packaged Food and Beverages products is projected to increase with a value CAGR of 1.1% for the forecast period 2023-2028 in 2023 constant prices with fixed USD exchange rates, reaching a value of US$1,061.2 mn by 2028.

• The Organic Packaged Food and Beverages category in Sweden registered a value decline of 0.7% in 2023 in current prices to record a market size of US$1,003.2 million. 
• During the historic period of 2019-2023, the Organic Packaged Food category registered a strong CAGR of 2.2% in current prices. For the forecast period from 2023 to 2028, the projected CAGR is 1.4% in constant prices.
• Organic Beverages grew historically at 4.5% current CAGR, however, for the forecast period, the category is expected to decrease by a 0.2% constant CAGR.
• Growth in Organic Packaged Food was led by Cooking Ingredients and Meals, which recorded a 4.1% current CAGR during the historic period. Looking ahead, the category growth is expected to be led by Snacks, projected to grow at a constant CAGR of 2.9% over the forecast period.
• Within Organic Beverages, Organic Hot Drinks was the sole driver of growth, with a historic current CAGR of 11.4%. However, over the forecast period, the category is expected to stagnate, with a decrease of 0.3% CAGR in constant prices, while Organic Soft Drinks remain flat.

• Swedish consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of nutritional value, as there has been a closer attention paid to what they eat, with the share of consumers looking for healthy ingredients in food and beverages increasing from 36% in 2023 to 44% in 2024 according to Euromonitor International's Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey.
• With the media increasingly focusing on the health concerns surrounding processed foods and artificial ingredients, the natural claim is being utilised for its perceived health benefits, becoming one of the main claims in categories such as Snacks and Dairy Products and Alternatives. Organic is one of the most common claims being combined with natural, especially in categories such as Dairy and Cooking Ingredients and Meals.

• Arla Foods Amba led the Organic Packaged Food category in 2023 with a 23.4% market share, nearly 20 p.p. ahead of its closest competitor. The multinational cooperative has firmly positioned itself as the sole leader in organic dairy, also standing as the world’s largest organic milk producer. Its success is driven by strong performance across key categories such as cream, butter, fresh milk and cheese.
• Nordquist & Söner AE AB continued to lead Organic Beverages, growing its market share by 6.8 p.p. from 2019 to reach 33.2% of the market in 2023. The company offers organic coffee, positioning as the second largest coffee company in Sweden.

• Across the forecast period, sales of Organic Snacks are set to grow, with retail sales projected to rise at a 2.9% constant value CAGR to reach US$119.7 million in 2028. Organic Nuts, Seeds and Trail Mixes will be the one of the leading products in the Organic Snacks landscape, reaching sales of US$24.2 million, supported by a forecast constant CAGR of 5.1%. These products often combine organic and high-fiber claims, as consumers appreciate additional nutritional benefits and the lack of preservatives used in organic goods.
• Swedish parents are increasingly concerned about the health and wellness of their children, wanting to ensure they get the best nutritional value. As such, parents will reach for goods fortified with vitamins and minerals, low in sugar and salt, while being free from artificial ingredients. Innovation opportunities are therefore strong in health and wellness baby food, where Organic Baby Food will rise at a constant value CAGR of 1.7% through 2028 to reach US$62.7 million, increasing sales by US$5.0. Brands, including HiPP and Ella’s Kitchen, are expected to continue releasing organic baby food options, while smaller brands, such as Alex & Phil and Lovemade, only offer organic options. As such, the growth of Organic Baby Food will be driven by parents switching to organic options and brands increasingly offering organic goods.

• There have been ongoing discussions within the Swedish government about the introduction of a sugar tax. This would significantly impact growth and the price of categories such as Soft Drinks and Snacks over the forecast period, in addition to product innovation. Although the government has not reached a decision, news outlets are continuously discussing this issue, in addition to the negative health effects of a high sugar diet. The Swedish Cancer Society has been active in supporting the introduction of a sugar tax, stating that carbonates in Sweden have significantly higher levels of sugar than the corresponding drinks in other markets, such as the UK.
• The number of vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians is on the rise in Sweden, and this is set to continue increasing over the forecast period. In addition to animal welfare concerns, flexitarians are often motivated by climate and environmental concerns, which are key reasons for them to reduce their meat consumption, adding plant-based days on a flexible basis to their diet. Consequently, new and existing players will likely continue to launch vegan, vegetarian and plant-based foods while private label operators expand their product lines.

Economy: 

• Sweden's economy is projected to recover in 2025, with expected GDP growth of 1.9%. The expected growth is attributed to a cyclical upturn, supported by lower interest rates and easing inflation.
• Real GDP growth is anticipated to gradually recover, reaching 2.2% in 2026 and averaging around 2.0% annually through 2028.
• Inflation closed 2024 at 2.8% and is expected to decelerate further to 1.5% in 2025. This is after a three decade high in 2023 of 8.5%.

Population demographics: 

• Sweden's population reached 10.6 million in 2024 and is projected to remain stagnant through the forecast period. As the country’s fertility rate keeps decreasing, reaching 1.4 children born per woman, mid-lifers (aged 45-64) are expected to represent the largest portion of the population by 2040.

• The median age in Sweden was recorded at 41.0 years in 2024, marking an increase of 0.5 years from 2020.

Income & expenditure: 

• The savings ratio in Sweden reached 9.5% of disposable income in 2024, remaining at similar levels for the past decade.
• Consumer expenditure per capita grew by 3.1% in 2024 in current USD terms. In constant USD, it is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.6% through 2028.  Housing is forecast to be the largest consumer spending category in 2028, while hotels and catering will record the fastest growth over 2023-2028.
• Disposable income per capita was US$27,772 in 2024. It is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.8% through 2028, outpacing the average growth rate in Western Europe.

¹ Health and Wellness Definition: Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

The above definition and more can be referenced from the definitions table at the end of the report.

² Economic and Demographic Data has been updated to reflect final 2024 estimates, therefore using 2024 as the base year for exchange rates and prices. 

³ Historic current prices and forecast constant 2024 prices.

Top 5 Cities By Population

Top 5 Grocery Retailers By Sales

Top 5 Export Commodities To Sweden

Note : Total organics is the sum of all exports in a particular year   

Authorized Government Agency(s):

European Union (EU) Member States retain the authority to determine additional requirements for production within their country. They can also determine exceptions due to catastrophic circumstances, but cannot restrict access to products in compliance with EU regulations. In addition, the EC delegates most authority for the administration of organic programs to the Member States.

Agency Contact Information
Swedish Board of Agriculture

National Food Agency
E-mail: livsmedelsverket@slv.se
Phone: 018-17 55 00

SWEDAC
Sweden's national accreditation body. Swedac also coordinates the Swedish market surveillance.
 

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

The European Union has an Equivalency Agreement with the United States.

This 2022 consolidated version repeals and replaces previous organic regulations and contains the basic legislative act plus amendments and corrections that set the rules on organic production and labeling of organic products: EU 2018/848 (pdf in English) 

Key secondary acts not included in consolidated EU 2018/848 include: 

• Retroactive recognition for the purpose of conversion, the production of organic products and information to be provided by EU countries: EU 2020/464 (pdf in English)
• Conditions for authorization and lists of authorized products and substances for use in organic production: EU 2021/1165 (pdf in English)
• Supplemental rules on the official control, traceability and mass balance checks for operators and groups of operators: EU 2021/771 (pdf in English)

A full list of basic legislative act and secondary acts is available here.

Date of Implementation: 1992

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

EU standards cover crop, livestock, processing, and certification of groups of operators. Farm and handling plans are required, as well as detailed record keeping and detailed livestock feed standards.  Specific standards are included for aquaculture, seaweed, yeast, bees, sprouted seeds, chicory heads, wine, mushrooms, and salt. Criteria for determining allowed materials include consistency with the objectives and principles of organic farming, and materials must be of plant, animal, microbial or mineral origin. Synthetic substances, however, may be used when they replicate the natural sources and when they are approved for organic production in the EU.

EU requires that imported organic products meet EU standards. Non-EU organic products must include country of origin labeling if they wish to use the EU organic logo. Use of the EU organic logo is not required for products from outside the EU. EU requires that imported products must be from countries that have been recognized by the EU (third-countries) and certified by recognized control bodies (certifiers); or countries with bilateral equivalency arrangements (Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, U.S.); or countries with equivalency agreements (Chile, Switzerland, UK).

List of third countries and the list of control authorities and control bodies recognized for the purpose of importing organic products into the EU: EU 2021/2325 (pdf in English)

Requirements have been established for importers, operators responsible for the consignments, first consignees and consignees for the import of organic and in-conversion products into the EU.

Documents and notification required EU 2021/2307 (pdf in English)

Beginning February 3, 2020, port of entry health authorities will only endorse a certificate of inspection if the certifier issued it prior to export. Certain sections of the certificates (boxes 13, 16, and 17) may be filled in with provisional information, since certifiers can not verify all of the data before the product is exported. The provisional information must be confirmed/updated within 10 days, and before the certificate can be endorsed at the port of entry.

Exports from the U.S. to EU must adhere to the EU procedures and require an EU Certificate of Inspection (COI). A USDA-accredited certifying agent must complete an electronic COI through the European Union's Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) before the product leaves the U.S. Certain edits to the COI may only be made within 10 days of issuing the original COI.

EU Trade in Organics

The EU requires organic certification for all those involved in production and handling, including importers. EU requires ALL processing operations to be certified, even if those products are below the 95% threshold for the "Organic" label.

EU delegates the authority for investigations, non compliance, mediation, and testing, as well as reporting, exclusion from organic sale, emergency treatments and appeals to the Member States in accordance with their respective control system plans.

The EU allows private sector standards for the product categories, such as cosmetics and textiles, which are not fully regulated by the EU.  In the EU certifiers (control bodies) can require additional organic crop, livestock and processing standards in association with the use of their certification seal.

The EU has unified the control systems that Member States and control bodies implement for investigations, non-compliance, mediation, testing, reporting, exclusion from organic sale, emergency treatments and appeals.  Required reports, records and certificates are submitted in electronic format through the use of the Organic Farming Information System.  

In addition to the EU organic regulations for certification and accreditation procedures, the requirements of EN 45011 and ISO Guide 65 for accreditation must be met. 

Requirements for recognition of control authorities and control bodies: EU 2021/1698 (pdf in English)

Use of Organic Farming Information System and templates for annual reports: EU 2021/1935 (pdf in English)

Record keeping and declaration requirements from operators and groups of operators EU 2021/2119 (pdf in English)

List of control authorities and control bodies for equivalence 

Control bodies in the European Union

FiBL Country reports
U.S. International Trade Administration

USDA’s GAIN Report Sweden Exporter Guide (2023)

USDA's GAIN Report Economic Woes Slows Growth in EU Organic Sales (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report EU Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report EU Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report Annual(2023)
USDA's GAIN Report EU 2024 Promotion Programs for Agricultural Products (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report EU Adopts New Rules for Organic Pet Food (2023)
USDA’s GAIN Report Procedure for EU TRACES Registration of Honey and Other Apiculture Products Establishments - New EU Market Access Rules from 29 November 2024 (2024)
USDA’S GAIN Report EU Consumers save on food and buy less organic in 2022 (2023)
USDA’S GAIN Report COVID-19 Boosts Organic Food Sales in the EU (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report Update on Changing EU Import Conditions for Composite Products (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report European Commission Launches Public Consultation on the Revision of EU Food Labeling Requirements (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report New EU Labeling Rules for Wines (2022)
USDA’S GAIN Report Continuing Good Prospects for US Organic Exports to the EU (2021)
USDA’S GAIN Report New EU Organic Regulation Entering Into Force in 2021 Regulatory Update (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report EU Launches Consultation on Future Organics Action Plan (Sept. 2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Food Labeling Initiatives in the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Pesticides Initiatives in the EU Farm to Fork Strategy (2020)
USDA’S GAIN Report Good Prospects for US Organic Exports in the EU (2020)