(NaturalPath) According to an analysis released by financial firm BMO Capital Markets last May, Costco was projected to sell just more than $4 billion in organic products this year, eclipsing Whole Foods’ $3.6 billion to take the national lead. While, Costco’s in-store percentage of organic to non-organic isn’t equal to Whole Foods, the raw volume pushes them over the edge.
The increase in organic sales from a mainstream retailer illustrates the way the American food demands are changing. These foods are healthier for you and for the environment and people are taking notice, which is why the demand has increased and therefore also the supply from stores like Costco.
“While the challenges in terms of supply are still out there, they’re becoming less formidable because there are more organic suppliers and producers,” said Costco’s vice president and CFO. “We’re working with them to commit more to it.” Later in the year, the Costco said they had already reached the $4 billion mark on organic sales.
It looks like the organic market will continue to grow.
Razi Berry, Founder and Publisher of Naturopathic Doctor News & Review (ndnr.com) and NaturalPath (thenatpath.com), has spent the last decade as a natural medicine advocate and marketing whiz. She has galvanized and supported the naturopathic community, bringing a higher quality of healthcare to millions of North Americans through her publications. A self-proclaimed health-food junkie and mother of two; she loves all things nature, is obsessed with organic gardening, growing fruit trees (not easy in Phoenix), laughing until she snorts, and homeschooling. She is a little bit crunchy and yes, that is her real name.