Baby Food Market

Baby Food Market Outlook (2023-2033)

Global baby food sales were valued at around US$ 85,936.2 Mn at the end of 2023. The market is projected to register 5.5% CAGR and top a valuation of US$ 1,46,791.4 Mn by 2033.

Baby Food Consumption Analysis (2017-2022) Vs. Market Estimations (2023-2033)

The global baby food market has witnessed significant growth in the historical period registering a CAGR of 5.3% in the historical period and was valued at US$ 85,936.2 Mn in 2023. The market is expected to grow steadily owing to the increasing consumption and awareness about benefits related to baby foods.

Baby foods were made at home until mid-1900s, after which commercial baby food market emerged, as convenience food for babies grew in popularity. Growing economies, urbanization, and changing lifestyles encouraged the trend of commercial baby products that save time and are easy to introduce as compared to homemade baby foods. Increasing women employment rate is one of the prime reasons for the growing popularity of baby foods, as a large number of mothers start to work after few months of child birth. On the other hand, decline in global birth rates, and decreasing fertility rates are likely to impact the progress of baby food market. However, manufacturers have increased their efforts in introducing innovations in baby food along with novel packaging solutions and assistance of e-commerce platform for increasing the sales of baby food products. Based on this scenario, the demand for baby food products is estimated to grow at a steady pace during the review period.

The market is likely to expand based on the market trends and attain a valuation of US$ 1,46,791.4 Mn and a CAGR of 5.5% for the forecast duration.

What are the Key Trends in the Market for Baby Food?

“Increasing Rates of Women Employment to Positively Influence Baby Food Preference”

Around the world, the ratio of female to male labour force has seen dramatic shifts due to rise in the levels of women employment. The rate of female labour force is estimated to be highest among poorest and richest countries in the world. The countries with average disposable income have considerably lower female labour force. Most modern working mothers are busier and look for time saving solutions while raising a child. Moreover, increased average age of women at child birth has raised concerns about child health. Research and development have developed baby foods that are rich in nutrition such as iron and protein and create ease for parents to fulfil the essential needs of a growing baby. Prepared baby food provide convenience to working mothers that look for time saving yet nutritious and healthy food options for their babies. Thus, increasing rates of women employment is highly likely to increase the demand for baby food in the near future.

“Increasing childhood obesity rates are challenging manufacturers to assure baby food safety”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been a significant rise in the number of obese or overweight infants and young children from 32 million in 1990 to 41 million in 2016. The rise is prominent in developing countries, representing over 30% higher rates than that of developed countries. Diet is considered to play an important role in the early onset of obesity among children. Studies show that early introduction of solid food in the diet of babies can increase the risk of obesity. Moreover, sugar content in the finger baby foods are studied to be higher and may not be appropriate for baby’s health. Such health risks are associated with the baby food category have made in difficult for baby food manufacturers to gain consumer trust.

“Baby food innovations to support and enhance the consumer demand”

Revolution in the food and food packaging industry owing to innovations and changing consumer preferences have significantly transformed the baby food industry as well. With the vast history of Cerelac, which was developed to reduce premature deaths, baby food industry is now serving myriad of baby food products. Some of popular baby food items include baby juices, baby cereals, baby snacks and organic baby foods. Moreover, consumers have choices of different food packaging such as canned food, bottled food, glass jars, plastic containers, foldable pouches, and other flexible packaging. Also, innovations in the baby food and development of leading-edge packaging solution is playing an important role in attracting consumers.

“Organic Baby Food Are Gaining Popularity Owing to Spread of Health Awareness”

Organic foods are devoid of additives such as preservatives, chemicals, hormones, or other substances that may cause severe allergy or lead to long term health effects. Increasing health awareness among consumers is driving the demand for organic food over non-organic food owing to benefits of natural products and absence of chemicals or harmful substances. Development of organic baby foods have generated great demand among parents who are well-informed and concerned about health of baby. Since, manufacturing of organic baby food follows stringent packaging, maintenance, and labelling protocols, they are increasingly gaining trust among consumers.

“Declining Global Birth Rates to Negatively Impact the Baby Food Demand”

In past decades, there has been significant transformations around the world in terms of population growth, economy developments, life styles, and life expectancy. While global disease burden have increased, advances in medical treatments have increased the overall life expectancy. Growing urbanization and increasingly busier schedules have changed life preferences. In OECD countries, mean age of women at child birth has increased to 30 years and above owing to delaying in marriage, and postponement in first child birth. Moreover, preference for single child birth has become common owing to rising living costs. Over the past 50 years, global birth rates have reportedly declined significantly from 4.5 to 7 children per women to 2.5 children per women. This phenomenon is anticipated to have a prominent impact on the demand of baby food in the years to follow.

How is the European Baby Food Market Faring?

The European market for baby food holds 21.7% of the market value share in 2022.

Europe is likely to emerge as big market for baby foods during 2023-2033. Presence of the leading market players and increasing number of regulations by regulatory bodies on the manufacturing and labelling of baby foods are some of the factors driving the growth of the market across Europe.

Category-wise insights

Which Product Type of Baby Food Accounts for High Revenue Generation?

Infant formula holds 61.8% of the global market value share and accounts for high revenue generated.

Infant formula consists of a balanced consumable for infants that provides them with proper nutrition that is imperative for healthy development of growing children. Formula foods are easy to prepare and consume which is beneficial for working parents who can work without compromising their family’s health.

Which Sales Channel of Baby Food is seen more across the World?

Based on the sales channel, modern trade accounts for the greatest sale of baby food based on them having around 46.4% of the market.

E-commerce has become a popular platform to sell every possible item. Baby food is one of such products being actively sold via e-commerce platform. Baby food formulas have recently gained highest sales along with other baby products through online marketing. For instance, China’s baby food formula manufacturers have significantly increased their sales through e-commerce platform owing to increasing consumer demand and changing consumer preference towards online shopping. Thus, e-commerce platform and increasing online shopping trend are increasing the baby food sales.

Competitive Dashboard

The global baby foods market is primarily characterized by a large number of multinational players that occupy the major market share. The presence of multinational players accounts for high capital investment into development of new technologies to improve efficiency of the production process and optimize supply chains with rise in demand. Influx of capital into branding and promotion of their respective product offering helps attract new customers and consolidate the existing customer base.

• In January 2017, Abbott completed the acquisition of St. Jude Medical, Inc. one of the world leaders in the design, development, manufacture and distribution of medical devices to treat heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, vascular disease, structural heart disease, and chronic pain and movement disorders.
• Cargill focuses on expanding its business by acquiring companies and their business. In April 2016, the company acquired the Nature Wax business back from Elevance. The acquisition is an effort to expand its bio-industrial portfolio and strengths and its technical innovation capabilities to provide waxes superior to petroleum-based paraffin alternatives.
• In July 2017, Campbell Soup entered into an agreement to completely acquire Pacific Foods for US$ 700 Mn and in February 2016, the company invested US$125 million venture capital fund in food start-ups.
• In April 2016, OptiBiotix Health entered into a joint venture with Royal DSM to partner on developing new products using OptiBiotix's proprietary OptiBiotic technology platform and in the same month, the company partnered with Nexeo Solutions, that is a worldwide chemical and plastics distributer, to offer performance filaments for 3D printing.

Baby Food Industry Report Scope

Baby Food Industry Research by Category

By Nature:

• Organic
• Non-Organic

By Product Type:

• Infant formula
• Baby Juice
• Baby Cereals
• Bottled Baby Food
• Baby Snacks
• Canned Baby Food
• Others

By Sales Channel:

• Modern Trade
• Speciality Stores
• Drug Stores
• Online Retailers
• Other Sales Channel

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• South Asia & Pacific
• East Asia
• Middle East & Africa

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