State-owned retail network, Lanka Sathosa is stepping up efforts to diversify its product offering and is gearing up to open the first organic supermarket network in Sri Lanka.

The specialised chain will be operating under the banner ‘Sathosa Organic Supermarket’ for which fresh branding efforts are already being carried out. The organic arm will carry the Sathosa logo and in green unlike the umbrella brand which uses red and yellow colours.

The first outlet under Sathosa Organic Supermarket will be established in the Colombo district in R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3. The network will then be extended to main cities of the Colombo district. To kick off the setting up process, the Trade Ministry has called on suppliers of organic products and produce to register. The suppliers are expected cater to the upcoming organic supermarket network high quality uncarbonized products on a long-term basis.Interested suppliers are required to forward to the Trade Ministry the necessary details along with a report on the product before the third week of August 2021.President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been advocating for the country to look at consuming more organic products, which are healthy and less impactful on the environment. The government’s efforts in pushing the country to embrace organic farming practices started with a ban imposed on chemical fertilizer imports.

According to a report published by Fior Markets, the global organic food and beverage market is expected to grow from US$ 255.2 billion (2020) to US$ 849.7 billion by 2028. The report by the market intelligence company highlighted that significant growth is expected in the sales of organic food and beverages as a result of the change in the purchasing behaviour of consumers.