Asia-Pacific Cookies Market Outlook, 2027

In Asia-Pacific, there is a rising consumer demand for products containing non-genetically modified and natural ingredients owing to growing awareness regarding health and safety concerns. In addition to improving lifestyles, the popularization of easy purchases through online shopping, among other new methods of sales, is keeping the sector alive. Moreover, the cookie producers have effortlessly storable products on the shelf for e-commerce; thus, the increasing number of online retailers is boosting the cookie manufacturers' business. Moreover, the low-cost local manufacturers are improving and expanding their production capacities.

According to the report, Asia-Pacific Cookies Market Outlook, 2027 the market has grown with more than 5% CAGR from 2016 to 2021. The fierce competition among leading cookie manufacturers favour the growth of the Asia-Pacific cookies market. In addition to dominant, large-scale production companies, local, small-scale bakers focused on innovation are also producing delicious cookie products with authentic recipes. APAC comprises several developing economies, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. These developed and developing countries are witnessing growth in the middle-class population, along with a surge in urbanization, which offers several opportunities for the key players in the cookie market. Severe competition compels companies to adopt innovative approaches to enhance their product quality. Other factors, such as changing consumer taste preferences and rising demand for processed food, as well as the availability of numerous product variants, have boosted the growth of the cookies market.

Further, with the growing awareness about nutrition, a healthy diet plays a crucial role in today’s busy lifestyles, as global consumers are looking for cookies that are both convenient and help quantify the intake of nutrients. Therefore, digestive cookies are increasingly being launched by companies, and they are competitively engaged in launching new and innovative plain cookies, particularly in developing countries where there is an increase in the consumption of health-based cookies. Companies such as Parle G and Britannia are the most popular brands in India in the plain cookie category. In Australia, due to the growing demand for convenience food, innovations in packaging, and an expanding young population, the cookie market is expected to continue to grow. There is a growing trend of using premium cookies as gift options for special occasions like Valentine's Day, Easter celebrations, or family gatherings across the country, providing a driving force for the luxury cookie market.

The demand for cookies is increasing due to the growing demand for healthy snacks and an increase in per capita consumption in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, in July 2021, ITC Limited’s Sunfeast, one of India’s most preferred brands in cookies and cakes launched a new-to-market cookie experience with the launch of Sunfeast All-Rounder. It is a new potato cookie, crunchy, and one of the thinnest cookies ever manufactured in India.

Due to its changing demographics, the Asia-Pacific region's urbanization is opening up new opportunities for growth. Consumers are being drawn to frequent launches of basic products with new formulations, such as low-fat, gluten-free, low-carb, organic, and high-fiber cookies, which is boosting market expansion. For instance, in January 2020, Mondelez India launches Cadbury Chocobakes, bringing their signature chocolate flavour to a cookie format. Sweet cookies are the fastest-growing sector owing to their taste and healthy ingredients. Cookies in the region include a wide range of crisp, baked goods such as cookies, crackers, pretzels, and pies. Supermarkets and hypermarkets have always had a strong lead in cookie sales as they have the extra benefit of influencing the consumer's decision to make a purchase among the huge range of items available on the market. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the most common sales channels for cookies across the world, owing to their large retail areas and ability to appeal to a wide range of preferences.

The cookie market in these countries has made significant progress in the past few years owing to the rising population and increased per capita income. Moreover, surging demand for convenience food due to rising purchasing power among consumers is further boosting the growth of the cookies market in the rest of the APAC countries. A few of the players operating in the Asia Pacific cookies market are Burton's Cookie Company, ITC Ltd., Kellogg Company, Lotus Bakeries NV, Mondelez International, Inc., Nestlé S.A., and Britannia Industries Limited. If there's one product that almost every Japanese person has eaten, it would be the Morinaga Marie Cookie.

The market is primarily driven by the considerable growth in the commercial production of cookies across the globe. This can be attributed to the continual technological advancements in food processing technology. In addition to this, the shift in consumer preference towards ready-to-consume convenience foods is providing an impetus to the market. Moreover, the fortification of nutritional ingredients in cookies, along with an enhanced focus on developing innovative product variants, is creating a positive market outlook. Apart from this, aggressive marketing campaigns, attractive packaging, and numerous merchandising strategies conducted by major market players are also fueling product demand on a global level. The market is further propelled by the easy availability of products across offline and organized retail channels.

Some of the most popular cookies in Asia-Pacific region includes Ma'amoul (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine), Pitha (Odisha, India), Naan berenji (Kermanshah Province, Iran), Mandelbrot (Israel), Tahini cookie (Israel), Silvanas (Philippines), Hodu-gwaja (Cheonan, South Korea), Hamantash (Israel), Koloocheh (Iran) and Cincin (Sabah, Malaysia). The major players in the Asia-Pacific sweet Cookies market are Mondelez International, Inc., Britannia Industries Limited, Parle Products Pvt.

Recent Development

• In March 2022, Ludhiana-based Bonn Group launched premium digestive minis under its Americana range of product lines. These Premium Digestive Minis come with no artificial colours or flavors, a permanent feature of many Bonn products. Also, this new range of cookies will be available in a 65-gram pack, while costing INR 10.
• In January 2022, OREO, one of the world's major cookie brands, launched its globally existing variant OREO Double Stuff in India. It promises double the fun and decadence with more crème between the two scrumptious layers of its classic cookie. According to the company, this latest innovation provides its customers with a new indulgent eating experience.
• In March 2021, Nestle Japan launched KitKat's new whole-wheat chocolate cookie. It is made with the familiar KitKat chocolate and coated in whole-wheat cookies. The packaging shows a cookie that looks like a graham cracker or a digestive cookie.

Covid-19 Impacts:

The demand for and sale of snacks have experienced a sudden slump due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Asia-Pacific cookies market, which had been seeing some tasty-looking growth before COVID-19, has seen demand soar during the epidemic due to increase at-home consumption, as do many other product categories throughout the world. During the coronavirus quarantine, the popular and widely accessible cookie brand Parle-G saw its highest sales in decades. During the lockdown period of March, April, and May, the firm claimed that the Cookie brand saw its strongest sales in over eight decades. Based on these factors, it is expected that the Asia-Pacific cookie market will witness prominent market growth during the forecast period.

Major Companies present in the market:

Nestle SA, PepsiCo, Inc., MARS, Mondelez International, Inc., The Kraft Heinz Company (Berkshire Hathway and 3G Capital), General Mills , Grupo Bimbo, Kellog Co., The Ferrero Group, Danone S.A., Barilla G. e R. Fratelli S.p.A, Jiashili Group, Tiffany (IFFCO), Lotus Bakeries, Bahlsen GmbH and Co. KG (The Bahlsen family), United Biscuits (UK) Limited Co. (Pladis global), Britannia Industries, UNIBIC Foods India Pvt. Ltd., Arcor U.S.A. Inc.

Considered in this report

• Geography: Asia-Pacific
• Historic year: 2016
• Base year: 2021
• Estimated year: 2022
• Forecast year: 2027

Aspects covered in this report

• Asia-Pacific Cookies market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise cookies market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea

By Product

• Bar Cookies
• Sandwich Cookies
• Molded Cookies
• Pressed Cookies
• Rolled Cookies
• Others Cookies (Drop Cookies, No-bake Cookies, Refrigerator Cookies, Ice Box Cookies, etc.)

By Packing

• Flexible Packing
• Rigid Packing
• Other Packing

By Distribution Channel

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores & Retailers
• Online Retailers
• Others

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Cookies industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.