Supermarkets and grocery stores are expanding its shelf-space for organic food products as it is catching on in the Qatar market with more people becoming health-conscious.

"Demand for organic food is increasing. We have seen more than 20 percent rise in the number of customers and turnover compared to last year," a senior official of a leading hypermarket said yesterday.

Organic food is produced with the help of bio-fertiliser or organic manure in specially developed soil to do away with synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilisers, which should explain why organic products are pricier.

Major organic produce, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, seeds, pasta, chocolates, candies, biscuits, jams, among others, are regularly arriving in the local market.

Ghassan Jaroudi, Senior Manager, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, said, "Given the growing demand, we have started importing organic food popular in Europe. We have now shelves with up to 100 items, including 'Casino BiO' products such as pasta, jams, chips, chocolates and candies."

He said local farms have also started producing organic vegetables — tomatoes, cucumber and eggplants so far — in small quantities and most produce is sourced from the US, the UK, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Lebanon and other countries.

Until a few years ago, demand was limited to a small segment of higher- and middle-income people. But growing awareness about benefits of a healthy lifestyle and increasing income levels are expanding the customer base, sources said.

As consumer spending on food is increasing, demand for organic, gluten-free and sugar-free food could grow faster in the coming years. [The Peninsula]