• Yeo Valley Farms Ltd leads the organic segment in the United Kingdom with a value share of 11.3% in 2023, followed by Mondelez International Inc with a value share of 7.4% and Highland Spring Ltd with a share of 6.8%.
• The UK ranks 6th globally in terms of market size, with a value of US$2,160.5 mn in 2023, being the 3rd largest market in Western Europe, trailing only France and Germany.

• Organic products in the United Kingdom represent roughly 3.5% of global demand and 9.8% of the market in the Western Europe region, recording a per capita expenditure of US$31.5 in 2023. 
• The UK market for organic products is projected to increase with a value CAGR of 2.0% for the forecast period 2023-2028 in 2023 constant prices with fixed USD exchange rates, reaching a value of US$2,387.2 mn by 2028.

• The Organic Packaged Food and Beverages category in the United Kingdom registered a value increase of 2.9% in 2023 in current prices to record a market size of US$2,160.5 million. 
• During the historic period of 2019-2023, the Organic Packaged Food category registered a strong CAGR of 6.4% in current prices. For the forecast period from 2023 to 2028, growth is expected to slow down, with a projected CAGR of just 2.0% in constant prices.
• Organic Beverages grew historically at a 0.1% current CAGR, and its growth is expected to accelerate to 1.9% constant CAGR over the forecast period.
• Growth in Organic Packaged Food was primarily driven by Organic Dairy Products and Alternatives, which recorded a 7.4% current CAGR during the historic period. The category is expected to keep growing at a slower pace, at a constant CAGR of 1.4% over the forecast period.
• Within Organic Beverages, Organic Hot Drinks led both historic and projected growth, with CAGRs of a current 9.5% and a constant 2.7%, respectively.

• Alongside rising consumer awareness in the UK of the importance of healthy nutrition, the HFSS regulation (High in Fat, Salt, and Sugar) continued to drive innovation in the health space, targeting products identified by the Department of Health's Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) as high in fat, salt, and sugar. This regulation imposes restrictions on the physical and online presence of HFSS products, specifically impacting their strategic placement in retail spaces, including points of sale and end-of-aisle promotions. 
• In line with consumers purchasing products that are perceived as helping to improve their health, they are also increasingly concerned with the environmental and ethical practices of companies. Players are therefore increasingly committing to sustainability through organic claims, certifications such as Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, or B Corp, alongside the removal of plastic, responding to consumer demand.

• Yeo Valley Farms Ltd is leading the Organic Packaged Food category with a market share of 14.0% in 2023, growing 0.5 p.p. from the previous year. The company offers a fully organic catalog, including yogurt, kefir, milk, butter, cheese and beef.
• Highland Spring Ltd continued to lead Organic Beverages with a market share of 34.5% in 2023, declining by 1.4 p.p. from the previous year. The company is known for its portfolio of still and sparkling water directly from the Ochil Hills in Scotland, which has held organic accreditation since 2001. 

• Rising health trends and sustainability concerns around meat consumption in the UK are resulting in an increasing number of consumers who want to limit their meat intake, either by eliminating it from their diets (vegetarians/vegans) or by reducing the frequency of its consumption (flexitarians). As a result, plant-based, vegetarian and vegan meat and seafood substitutes are projected to record strong growth performances over the forecast period.
• Across the forecast period, sales of Organic Snacks are set to grow, with retail sales projected to rise at a 3.3% constant value CAGR to reach US$329.3 million in 2028, the highest CAGR increase across all categories. The growing popularity of the natural trend has propelled consumers' desire to meet their vitamin needs through foods, such as snacks, at the expense of pills, which has made good source of vitamins one of the leading claims within snacks in the UK. Across the forecast period, Organic Chocolate Confectionery will be the leading product in the Organic Snacks landscape, reaching sales of US$209.3 million, supported by a forecast constant CAGR of 1.9%.

• As local consumers become increasingly aware of the benefits of balanced nutrition and exercise on their health, demand for high protein foods has significantly grown in the UK. This has been particularly evident in products such as dairy that are naturally considered a good source of protein. Additional amounts of this nutrient are considered a convenient and appetizing way to help consumers further improve their health, with high protein remaining one of the most sought-after claims in food, becoming increasingly mainstream. The increasing proliferation of plant-based products in food has also strengthened the position of the high protein claim, due to players' efforts to emphasize the protein content of their products.
• UK food and drink labels are currently required to display essential information such as product name, full ingredient list in descending order, allergen details, net quantity, use-by or best-before dates, and nutritional values. However, consumers are increasingly demanding more transparency, clearer labeling, and easier-to-understand formats. Many want front-of-pack labels that highlight key health information and clearer indications of ingredient origins and processing levels. As health awareness grows, expectations are shifting toward more honest, accessible, and informative labeling that supports better food choices.

Economy: 

• The United Kingdom's economy is projected to grow in 2025, with real GDP growth expected to reach 1.1%, remaining unchanged from growth in 2024. Although there is moderate growth expected, the UK is facing various risks and uncertainties, including pressures on government borrowing costs, chance of prices rising and the potential of tariffs from the US.
• Real GDP growth is anticipated to continue its course, reaching 5.8% in 2026 and averaging around 1.5% annually through 2028.
• Inflation closed 2024 at 2.5% and is expected to slightly accelerate to 2.8% in 2025.

Population demographics: 

• The United Kingdom's population reached 68.8 million in 2024 and is projected to grow by 0.6% to 69.1 million in 2025. The UK's median age is slightly younger than the average for Western Europe, with 16.7% of its population being aged between 0-14 years old for 2024. 
• The median age in the UK was recorded at 41.2 years in 2024, an increase of 0.6 years from 2020.

Income & expenditure: 

• The savings ratio in the United Kingdom reached 3.0% of disposable income in 2024, the fourth lowest among the Western Europe region, but continuing a steady upward trend in recent years, driven by increasing disposable income and consumers' concerns regarding a potential economic downturn.
• Consumer expenditure per capita grew by 2.1% in 2024 in current USD terms. In constant USD, it is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.0% through 2028. This growth is expected to be driven by increased spending on transport, although housing is projected to remain the largest consumer spending category.
• Disposable income per capita was US$32,687 in 2024. It is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.1% through 2028, slightly lower than the average for 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 The United Kingdom

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

Authorized Government Agency(s):

The United Kingdom left the European Union January 31, 2020, and completed its exit from the EU December 31, 2021.

Agency(s) Contact Information:

1. United Kindom's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

A. Business Link

Organic Team Import Section
Phone: 020 7238 5777 (UK)
E-mail: organic.imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Description: Provides information on preparing to import organic produce to the UK and includes sections on preparing to import organic produce, applying for organic import authorization, certificate of Inspection and other import documents for organic produce, other regulatory requirements affecting organic importers, transport and organic imports as well as certificates of conformity and the Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates (PEACH.)

2. HM Revenues & Customs

Description: Information pack created as a basic guide to anyone wishing to import or export goods. It acts as a guide to help anyone get started on importing and / or exporting, and also provides a better understanding of the procedures involved in these activities.

3. Food Standards Agency
Telephone: 20 7276 8829
E-mail: helpline@food.gov.uk
FSA in Wales:
E-mail: walesadminteam@food.gov.uk
FSA in Northern Ireland:
E-mail: infofsani@food.gov.uk

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is the public sector food body for Scotland:
Contact Food Standards Scotland

A.    Imported food

Description: Includes information on what to do before importing; the banned or restricted products; advice about imports; the different legislation for importing food.

4.  US Embassy - Foreign Agricultural Service
Telephone: 44-20-7891-3313
Email: aglondon@fas.usda.gov

Description: This office represents the interests of U.S. agriculture and promote the sale of American food and agricultural, fisheries and forestry products in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and provides trade services both for local companies seeking U.S. products and for U.S. companies wishing to develop markets in the UK.

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

The United Kingdom has an Equivalency Arrangement with the United States.

In Great Britain the following regulations apply:

• The Organic Products Regulations 2009
• Retained Commission Regulation (EC) 1235/20008 
• Retained Council Regulation (EC) 834/2007 
• Retained Commission Regulation (EC) 889/2008 

Organic food: labeling and advertising rules  
Foods can be labeled as “organic” if at least 95% of the product’s agricultural ingredients are organic and all other ingredients, additives and processing aids are listed as permitted within the organic regulations. Other terms related to organic production methods are synonymous with organic include: bio, eco, organically grown, organically produced, grown or produced using organic principles and grown or produced using organic methods.  The labeling rules also apply to company names, or brand names.If the product has less than 95% organic ingredients, organic claims can be used only in the ingredients list and does not allow reference to organic in the product name or description.  More.

Date of Implementation of equivalence arrangement: January 1, 2021

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

The United States (U.S.) has an equivalence arrangement with the United Kingdom (UK), which includes Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern Ireland. This means that organic products certified to either the USDA or UK organic standards may be labelled and sold as organic in both countries, as long as the products meet the terms of the arrangement. The equivalence arrangement is limited to organic products that have been either raised within the U.S. or UK, or products for which the final processing or packaging occurs within the U.S. or UK. This includes products processed or packaged in the U.S. or UK that contain organic ingredients from third countries that have been certified to the USDA or UK organic standards.
Allowed product categories: Crops, Wild Crops, Livestock, Processed Products.

Starting January 1, 2021: All organic goods imported from non-EU countries must continue to have a valid Certificate of Inspection (COI). There is a new UK import process for all USDA organic products traded under the arrangement. Different documentation is required depending on whether the USDA organic product is exported to the UK-Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) or the UK-Northern Ireland.

USDA organic products exported to the UK-Great Britain: A USDA-accredited certifying agent must issue a paper Certificate of Inspection (COI) before the products leave the U.S. and send to the UK Port Health Authority (PHA)/Local Authority (LA), usually by courier. The PHA/LA can endorse a copy if the original hasn’t arrived in order to clear the goods, though the original will need to be endorsed within 10 working days for the consignment to be sold on as organic. To obtain the GB COI, send an email with your request to Organic.Imports@defra.gov.uk. The NOP will link to the GB Certificate of Inspection as soon as it is available.

USDA organic products exported to the UK-Northern Ireland: Pursuant to the Northern Ireland/Ireland Protocol, the EU organic regulations will remain applicable in Northern Ireland. Exports from the U.S. to Northern Ireland will continue to adhere to the EU procedures and will continue to require an EU COI. A USDA-accredited certifying agent must complete an electronic Certificate of Inspection (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.

U.S. organic businesses that encounter issues with USDA organic exports arriving in the UK are encouraged to work with their UK importer. You may also email the UK authorities at Organic.Imports@defra.gov.uk

Guidance on importing and exporting organic foods 

Certification:

The UK requires organic certification for all those involved in production and handling, including importers. 

Organic registers: Lists of non-UK countries, territories, control bodies and control authorities.

Control bodies in the United Kingdom

Accreditation:

The UK approves certification bodies. In the UK, the body appointed as the sole national accreditation body (NAB) is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Guidance on accreditation and conformity assessment.

Organic control bodies outside the UK can apply for recognition to certify exports to Great Britain.

U.S. International Trade Administration

USDA’s GAIN Report United Kingdom Exporter Guide (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report UK Import Controls Update (2023)
USDA’s GAIN Report United Kingdom Food Processing Ingredients (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report United Kingdom Food Service Hotel Restaurant Institutional (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report United Kingdom Retail Foods Report (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report UK Labeling Requirement Update 2022 (2022)

USDA’s GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2024)
USDA’s GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2022)