Fri 3rd May 2019 - Ethical food and drink sales hit £8.2bn, forecast to grow 17% in next five years Ethical food and drink sales hit £8.2bn, forecast to grow 17% in next five years: Ethical food and drink sales hit £8.2bn in 2018, with British consumers increasingly conscious of what they are buying, according to new research by Mintel. During the past five years, sales of ethical food and drink have rocketed 43%, from £5.7bn in 2013. This year sales are forecast to increase a further 4% to reach £8.6bn. The sector’s popularity is set to continue as sales of ethically certificated food and drink are projected to rise 17% to reach £9.6bn in the next five years. More than four-fifths (83%) of UK adults said they had bought food and drink with some sort of ethical certification, with the figure rising to 87% for over-55s. However, cost remains a barrier with 70% of UK adults saying eating sustainably and ethically is harder when money is tight. Free-range (66%) ranked as the most widely bought food with an ethical certification, with Fairtrade second (53%), followed by organic food (30%). Although two-thirds (67%) of consumers are “doing their bit” to reduce single-use plastic, more than four-fifths (83%) think retailers should do more to help. Mintel research analyst Alice Baker said: “Ethical food and drink has enjoyed strong sales growth in recent years but price poses a significant barrier to greater uptake. Products using surplus produce, for example the ‘wonky veg’ boxes offered by various supermarkets, can also be presented both as a financially savvy option and an ethical one to tackle food waste. The recent climate change protests have pushed sustainability high on the news agenda.”