Tesco's dreaming of a green Christmas

By James Knowles

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Supermarket

Leading British food retailer Tesco is expecting it to be a green
Christmas, and is preparing itself to meet demands for organic and
eco-friendly produce, in line with consumer trends.

Tesco is bracing itself for customers demanding gifts that satisfy ethical tastes. The food retailer is stocking up on organic turkeys expecting twice as many sales as last year. The supermarket expects to shift four times as many Satsumas' and sales of organic sprouts are expected to go through the roof by 500 per cent.

"We've taken on extra growers to ensure we can meet demand for organic carrots and parsnips and our potato growers are on standby to deliver direct to local stores to ensure shelves stayed filled,"​ said Tesco organic brand manager Elizabeth Cobbold.

Tesco is expecting environmentally friendly and organic products to fly off the shelves this Christmas as British consumers become ever more ethical in their product choice. The supermarkets hamper of organic chocolates, wine, jams and biscuits almost sold out within a week of hitting shelves.

"We're predicting an explosion in demand for all things green. In 2006 the environment has been centre stage like never before, and it's having a real impact on the season's spending,"​ said Tesco organic brand manager Elizabeth Cobbold.

The supermarket is answering the Christmas wishes of consumers by launching organic cranberries and organic versions of its fruit and nut boxes.

Mintel predicts that organic and Fairtrade products will be a big thing next year, as customers fill-up shopping baskets with products that make them feel good about themselves.

"We are talking about trends, not fads here, so we predict that all of these developments will be around for some time to come,"​ said David Jago, director of GNP solutions at Mintel.

Sainsbury's recently switched to selling 100 per cent Fairtrade banana's and Waitrose announced last week plans to extend its Fairtrade range, both as a response to trends towards ethical produce.

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