"The share in organic products in Belgium is the lowest in the whole of Europe", says Rony Neufkens, fruit and vegetable buyer at Colruyt. On Tuesday, 29 May, Colruyt announced that they are going to increase their share of organic products. This was during a press conference at the Belgian organic farm, De Lochting. "The demand for organics is rising yet the market is lagging behind. Consumers are more aware of health and sustainability. Retailers must be able to offer organic products", says Rony. "We want to expand the Colruyt Group's organic share at We want to do this in collaboration with various organic farmers."
Dirk Lammertyn of De Lochting, Jo Ghilain of Bio-Planet, Rony Neufkens, fruit and vegetable buyer at Colruyt, and Bernard Camenlijnd
In 2017, organic product sales at Colruyt grew by 8%. The market only increased by 6%. "This growth was largely realised in Bio-Planet shops and at Colruyt. Online sales and sales at local supermarkets are also on the rise. "Because of this growth, Colruyt wants to actively participate in the development of local organic horticulture", says Rony. The Bio-Planet and the organic house brand, Boni Bio, fall under the Colruyt Group. "We have had Boni Bio products in our range for five years now. We can see an ever-increasing demand for these products."
Colruyt works with, among others, the De Lochting organic farm. The reason for this collaboration is the companies' corresponding mission and vision. Sustainability and concern for nature and humankind is high on their agendas. De Lochting is also a social business that offers opportunities to certain people. These are people with poor job prospects. "People are our first priority. We do not look at what the employee cannot do. We focus on what the can do", says Dirk Lammertyn, De Lochting's Director. De Lochting began 25 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a business with 150 employees and 50 ha of agricultural land.
A few years ago, De Lochting switched from conventional to organic farming. Colruyt supported the company in those financially difficult transitional years. It took two to three years for the grower to become completely organic. They are now also organically certified. Now Colruyt's shelves are filled with organic produce from this farm. Included are kohlrabi, leaf parsley, red beets, winter purslane, and chestnut pumpkin. On Tuesday, 29 May, De Lochting's conversion became complete. All the company's agricultural fields are now certified organic. All of De Lochting's organic products will be in the Colruyt Group's shelves. This will be at the beginning of July. They will be under the European organic certificate.
De Lochting has between 8 and 10 hectares under leeks
Yana Morren Colruyt and Sander Van Haver of Innovatiesteunpunt
Organic beans
The vegetable gardens where residents can grow their own organic products
The Lochting makes its own organic compost
