Eating organic is not within everyone’s reach, especially because of the price. One well-known brand still manages to stand out.
Eating organic is not accessible to everyone who would like to enjoy it. Although organic food is known for being healthier and more environmentally friendly, the prices are high and therefore limit purchases. This represents a real obstacle for consumers. According to a study of the Organic Agency carried out at the end of 2023, the French would, in fact, be less and less attracted to this type of product. 54% of French people said they had consumed organic food products at least once a month over the last 12 months. This represents 6 points less compared to 2022. 30% of them consume them at least once a week and more than 20% have not consumed them in the year. For 74% of those surveyed, this way of eating is too expensive today.
However, some brands remain less expensive than others in the sale of organic products. UFC-Que Choisir has conducted its investigation in 1,300 stores based on the selling prices of organic products and the margin between these and those of non-organic foods. The focus was on the lowest prices for 17 product categories in 9 brands: Monoprix, Casino, Carrefour, Lidl, Intermarché, E.Leclerc, Aldi, Auchan, U.
Monoprix has the highest price difference between organic and non-organic products, with 86%. Casino comes in behind with a 79% margin, then Intermarché with 73%. Then we find Auchan and U with +67% and +68% respectively. In a handkerchief, Aldi, E.Leclerc and Carrefour gravitate around 63 to 64% price difference.
Only one brand is finally below the 60% price difference between organic and non-organic products, it is Lidl, with a 59% margin. To illustrate what budget this represents, UFC-Que Choisir simulated a shopping basket filled with the 17 organic products studied. Its cost is 88 euros at Lidl while it exceeds 100 euros at Casino (106 euros) and Monoprix (116 euros).
According to the Agence bio, it is sometimes even cheaper in specialist stores. “In specialist stores, organic fruits and vegetables are sometimes even cheaper than conventional ones in supermarkets because each store has flagship products.”