Organic Supermarkets and Discounters Remain as Driving Forces in Germany

By Martin Grass

Learning about the people behind the brands we see at the fairs and shops is important to maintain the transparency of the organic sector. Keeping track “from field to fork” is the prevalent slogan.

Here we present some of the best players of the organic scene in Germany. They are producers and processors. Most of them started a retail shop back in the 1970s . The retailers play an important role, especially organic supermarkets and natural health stores such as the Reformhaus chain, the oldest health conscious retail chain, dating back from the 19^th century. Today, Reformhaus operates mainly in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with products under its own Neuform brand and the brands of other suppliers.

Although not all products are organic, the trend is to increase the number of organic certified products. Reformhaus is a strong reference in the German market for reliable advice, quality products, variety and convenience. On the other hand, organic supermarkets have been emerging with a strong image of a trendy yet quality-oriented sector, where LOHAS consumers gather for a cappuccino while their bread is being baked.