Safeway Expands O Organics Line
Some people without a Safeway grocery store may be getting access to its wonderful line of organic products called O Organics. Market Watch informs us that Safeway is “striking partnerships to sell its “O Organics” line in Asia and South America” due to a deal with distributing giant Sysco Corp. The line was introduced in 2006 and is sold exclusively in Safeway stores in the U.S. and western Canada. There are now “300 items, including milk, chicken, food entrée and juice products.”
I think the best news from this article is that people are buying more organic food. In 2007, sales were estimated to reach $300 million in 2007, which is up from $164 million in 2006. Overall, “U.S. organic foods sales rose 20.9% to $16.7 billion in 2006, and could reach $20 billion this year, according to the Organic Trade Association.”
Safeway started its organic line to fight competition from Whole Foods Market. The closest Whole Foods to me is about 40 minutes away, so I am personally happy that Safeway is expanding its organic line, since it means more organic options for me!
The O’ Organics brand/line is already being sold in Asia–at Carrefour and Marketplace by Jason’s stores in Taipei, Tawian. You can read a couple stories about the development at www.naturalspecialtyfoodsmemo.blogspot.com.
There are also pictures of the O’ Organics sets at the Carrefour store on the blog.