A surging plant-based food sector, solid world-wide growth in organic and resurgent traditional medicine industries in Asia are among key findings of a new survey of Global Trends in Natural & Organic compiled by Natural Products Global.Com.
The annual survey is collated by NPG editor-in-chief Jim Manson, and draws on 12 months’ editorial coverage of four main categories – food and drink, health and nutrition, natural beauty and natural living.
The survey also summarises developments in natural products retail around the world, and checks in with some of the most thought-provoking commentaries of the year submitted by NPG’s guest bloggers.
The 2019 survey was presented at this month’s Natural & Organic Products Europe event, held in London. A video of the presentation can be viewed below. All the of the stories and headlines featured in the presentation are archived (and searchable) on the NPG site.
Key take-homes from the 2019 survey:
- Robust organic sector growth around the world
- Is this organic’s moment? Human health crises, climate change, soil fertility and societal demands for higher ethical standards make organic’s multiple benefits add up to a very compelling package.
- But organic faces challenges– some of them from within the movement
- Plant-based and vegan becoming mass movements
- Continuing disruption in retail – major multiples moving into the natural and organic space
- Retail ‘channel-shifting’ having significant impacts for suppliers and specialist retail
- Specialists will need to differentiate more clearly and create compelling reasons to shop with them
- Natural and organic brands will need to hold their nerve on price
- Expect more market consolidation – particularly in natural and organic food
- Resurgent interest in China’s and India in traditional medicine
- A continuingblurring of the boundaries between food and supplements – part of wider category convergence
- Key trends in health and wellness are being driven by consumers not brand owners
- The direction of travel is strongly towards natural and organic – and personal responsibility in health and wellness