However, with the economy picking up, the outlook is looking healthier for the industry. Four in five UK households purchased at least one organic product last year, and the sector is on track to returning to pre-crisis levels.
“In the last year, we’ve found that consumers are coming back to organic,” adds Wakeley. “People are still concerned with their health. Conventional growers may use a cocktail of chemicals on their fruit – organic producers use no artificial growth stimulants. It’s still unknown what those chemicals can do to you over a period of time. No data is currently available.”
Dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables are typically the most popular organic purchases. Milk and yoghurt accounted for more than a quarter of all spend on organic products last year, the Soil Association says.
Dairy is also among the fastest-growing sector, with yoghurt sales up by 14pc last year. Organic eggs and poultry are also rising in popularity, while sales of organic fruit continues to grow, with sales up 6pc last year.
Wakeley says that while organic food tends to be more expensive, the gap is less than people expect – and in some cases, there isn’t much difference.
“A conventional pack of apples is around £1.80. Organic might be £2. Similarly, we sell a pack of four organic kiwis for £1 and grapes for £2.50, both of which are comparable to standard packages.”
Sales with one retailer have risen by 10pc in a year, he adds.