Organic food market in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The contribution provides partial results of the research focused on organic food, a product from organic farming. The total area of ecologically farmed areas in the Czech Republic permanently increases, however the off er of organic food is insuffi cient, in particular in view of their structure. Defi ciency in organic food is being solved by imports. Distributors play an important role in the organic food market. In the Czech Republic the largest share from them is occupied by retail chains. Their share continues to grow to the detriment of other sales channels. One of the main factors aff ecting consumers' interest in organic food is its price. The comparison of organic food prices and prices of conventional food in the selected retail chains, Globus Czech Republic, limited partnership, SPAR Czech business company Pte., Tesco Stores CZ JSC, AHOLD Czech Republic JSC, BILLA Pte., and in organic food and healthy nutrition stores showed signifi cantly higher prices. The smallest diff erence in prices can be monitored in the milk and milk products. On the contrary, the largest diff erence is in fruits, vegetables, eggs and jams. However, the consumers' awareness of organic food quality is at the same time increasing and the consumers are willing to pay for them a higher price.