Updated at 1:12 p.m., Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Honolulu ranks high in organic grocery purchases
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu is among the top U.S. cities where people use organic food products, according to an analysis from Scarborough Research.Scarborough found 16 percent of Honolulu adults used an organic product during the past month, ranking it in the top 33 markets of 279 surveyed by Scarborough. San Francisco ranked first with 35 percent of adults responding they had used an organic item in the previous 30 days.
The ranking comes despite Honolulu lacking top national chain stores for organic products, which include the "supercenter" type of Wal-Mart Stores locations, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. While Whole Foods has announced plans to open in Honolulu, there are no Trader Joe's or Wal-Mart Supercenters here.
"Whole Foods and Trade Joe's have established themselves in the organics market, and as such are more popular among organics users," said Alisa Joseph, a Scarborough Research vice president in a news release.
"However, a high percentage of organics users shop prominent U.S. stores such as Wal-Mart due to its significant local market penetration. Other chains favored by organic shoppers include Safeway, Costco and Target's SuperTarget stores.
The research also found Organics consumers tend to be younger, affluent and big spenders at grocery stores. It found nationally the organics consumers spend an average of $127 on their weekly household grocery bill, or $12 more than the national average.
