On 6 May 2014, an event was held in a central Stockholm restaurant for the promotion of Greek organic fruits and vegetables in Sweden. Stavros Stavrakis, Executive Officer of ISD, said that "consumers in Sweden have focused heavily on healthy eating and organic products, of which about 50 % are imported. This means that there are great prospects for Greek exports."
He also stated that "in the Swedish market, there is not much difference in terms of prices between organic and conventional products. Swedes are familiar with Greek food, since they often visit the country as tourists. Only last year we had a total of 600,000 visitors from Sweden. What is needed is for our organic production to be able to cover demand."
The event was part of the programme to promote organic fruit and vegetables from Greece in three target markets: Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, which is funded by the EU and coordinated by the PanHellenic Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Organic Products (Hellas Bio Net).
At the event, presentations were held by members of the Greek companies «Novacert» (consulting company) and «Fresh Farm» (fruit and vegetables producer), while Swedish nutritionists pointed out the advantages of organic products compared to conventional products.
Speaking to those in attendance, the Ambassador of Greece in Sweden, Aliki Hadji, talked about the vast possibilities of Greek products due to their high quality and about the need to strengthen the internationalisation process of Greek firms abroad.
After the presentations, a cooking demonstration by a Greek chef followed, as well as tastings of Greek cuisine, where guests had the opportunity to taste traditional Greek dishes prepared with organic ingredients.
As mentioned at the event, in Sweden, organic product sales reached record levels in 2011, with a total 9.2 billion Swedish Krona in revenue; an increase of 11% compared with the previous year. All major Swedish retailers promote the sale of organic products and organic brands.
Consumption of organic products on the Swedish market
Sweden has one of the highest consumption rates of organic food. Approximately 53 % of Swedes have purchased products with the KRAV label, while 20 % make frequent purchases of organic products. Sales of products such as milk, eggs, yoghurt, coffee, processed vegetables, juices, vegetable oils and dairy products have increased significantly.
The three largest supermarket chains in Sweden, ICA, the COOP and Axfood, which control 85-90 % of the Swedish market, account for about 50 % of Sweden's organic market. The fact that these retailers cover the entire country, in combination with the vertical structure (import, wholesale and retail trade executed within the same company), make Sweden a very interesting market for exporters seeking stable and easily predictable sales in the long run.
Source: agrotypos.gr