Low-calorie Food Market Report 2026

The low-calorie food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $15.69 billion in 2025 to $17 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising consumer awareness of obesity and lifestyle diseases, increasing penetration of diet-focused food products, growth of health-conscious consumer segments, expansion of functional food categories, wider availability of sugar substitute ingredients.

The low-calorie food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $23.79 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for personalized nutrition, growing preference for plant-based low-calorie foods, expansion of diabetic-friendly product offerings, rising investments in food formulation technologies, increasing regulatory support for healthier food labeling. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for clean-label low-calorie products, rising adoption of natural sugar alternatives, expansion of nutrient-dense meal replacement foods, growing product innovation in reduced-calorie snacks, enhanced focus on functional low-calorie formulations.

The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes worldwide is expected to drive the growth of the low-calorie food market going forward. Obesity, characterized by a higher proportion of body fat, and diabetes, caused by elevated blood glucose levels, are often interrelated and frequently occur together. A low-calorie diet can support the management of both conditions by accelerating fat metabolism and promoting a catabolic state in the body. For instance, in June 2024, the National Health Service (NHS), a UK-based publicly funded healthcare system, reported that over 549,000 additional people in England were identified as at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the past year. Among those under 40, the number increased by nearly a quarter, from 173,166 in 2022 to 216,440 in 2023. Therefore, the growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes is driving demand for low-calorie foods.

Major companies in the low-calorie food market are focusing on product innovations, such as chickpea-based snacks, to offer healthier alternatives to traditional crisps and snacks. Healthier snack solutions reduce calories, fat, salt, and sugar while providing nutritional benefits like fiber, supporting smarter snacking choices. For instance, in July 2024, PepsiCo Inc., a US-based food and beverage company, launched a new range of Walkers snacks made with chickpea. The range includes Wotsits Cheese Toastie, Wotsits Crispy Bacon, and Monster Munch BBQ Sauce, all under 100 calories per pack and 25% lower in salt compared to standard extruded snacks. This line delivers authentic taste while allowing consumers to make healthier choices. Backed by a £58 million investment in the Walkers factory in Leicester, upgraded manufacturing facilities support increased production. Integrated with PepsiCo’s broader health initiatives, these chickpea-based snacks contribute toward the company’s goal of having 50% of snack sales come from non-high-fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) products or 100-calorie portions by 2025, enhancing consumer satisfaction, expanding product variety, and promoting positive dietary choices.

In January 2024, Ghodawat Consumer Limited, an India-based company in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, acquired To Be Honest for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition allows GCL to tap into the expanding health snack market. To Be Honest utilizes an innovative vacuum cooking process that provides products with high nutritional value and functional benefits, surpassing conventional low-calorie options. To Be Honest is recognized as a healthy snack brand in India that specializes in low-calorie foods.

Major companies operating in the low-calorie food market are Ajinomoto Co. Inc., Beneo Group, Ingredion Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories, Galam Ltd., PepsiCo Inc., Zydus Wellness Limited, Bernard Food Industries Inc., Danisco A/S, Archer Daniels Midland Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Cargill Incorporated, Groupe Danone SA, Nestlé S.A., McNeil Nutritionals LLC, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., Heartland Food Products Group, Kellogg Company, General Mills Inc., The Hershey Company, Mars Incorporated, Mondelez International Inc., Unilever PLC, Kraft Heinz Company, Campbell Soup Company, Conagra Brands Inc., The J.M. Smucker Company.

North America was the largest region in the low-calorie food market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the low-calorie food market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the low-calorie food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The low-calorie food market consists of sales of sugar substitutes, sugar alcohol substitutes, and nutrient-based substitutes. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the manufacturers of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.