Food Automation Market Report 2025

The food automation market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $15.04 billion in 2024 to $16.7 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased consumer demand for processed and convenience foods, focus on improving operational efficiency and productivity in food processing, rise in labor costs and workforce availability challenges, need for reduced waste and enhanced production yield in food manufacturing, adoption of automation for traceability and compliance.

The food automation market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $24.93 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to integration of artificial intelligence (ai) and machine learning (ml) in food automation, demand for flexibility and adaptability in food production lines, expansion of smart packaging and labeling technologies, focus on sustainable and eco-friendly food processing solutions, research and development in next-generation food automation technologies. Major trends in the forecast period include robotic automation for food handling and processing, advanced packaging automation, automated quality inspection and food safety systems, smart sensors and iot for real-time monitoring, digital twin technology for process simulation.

The rising demand for processed foods is anticipated to propel the growth of the food automation market in the future. Processed foods are products that have been altered from their natural state through methods such as canning, freezing, drying, or the addition of preservatives to improve shelf life and convenience. Several factors contribute to the growing demand for processed foods, including hectic lifestyles, increasing urbanization, and the attraction of longer shelf life for convenience and reduced waste. Automated machines ensure consistent product quality, minimizing the variations that can result from manual labor. For example, in January 2023, the American Frozen Food Institute, a US-based national trade association, reported that sales of frozen foods increased from $66.5 billion in 2021 to $72.2 billion in 2022. Therefore, the increasing demand for processed foods is expected to drive the growth of the food automation market.

The escalating occurrences of foodborne illnesses are anticipated to fuel the expansion of the food automation market. These diseases, stemming from various bacteria and parasites in food, emphasize the need for a more secure and safe food production process. Automation in the food industry significantly mitigates contamination risks, ensuring adherence to stringent hygiene and safety standards. Automated processes reduce human interaction with food, thereby lowering the likelihood of contamination and the spread of pathogens. According to the World Health Organization's data, globally, unsafe food leads to 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths annually, with 30% of these fatalities occurring among children under five years old. Thus, the rising instances of foodborne diseases are expected to drive the growth of the food automation market.

Technological advancements represent a pivotal trend gaining traction within the food automation market. This sector is witnessing the integration of next-generation automation technologies, such as robotics, digital twins, IoT, analytics, data processing, and automated control systems. These innovative solutions offer comprehensive automation, minimizing human intervention and augmenting profitability while ensuring safety standards. For instance, in January 2022, Pazzi Robotics, a France-based firm specializing in kitchen software and robotics, unveiled a fully automated packaged solution tailored for the food and beverage industry. This solution, operating without human intervention, employs robots for tasks ranging from food preparation to final assembly, all executed through automated procedures that combine software, data, and precision robotics.

Key players within the food automation market are strategically directing their investments toward industrial automation and digital transformation to secure a competitive edge. This focus on investment aims to facilitate the swift and effective implementation of robust tools, yielding impactful results. For example, in March 2023, ForgeOS collaborated with Rockwell, a leading entity in industrial automation, and READY Robotics, an innovative software-defined automation company, integrating with Rockwell's Logix controllers and design software. This synergistic alliance streamlines robot integration, simplifying industrial automation deployment timelines, and amplifying time-to-market efficiency, particularly within the food automation sector.

In January 2022, AMF Bakery Systems Inc., a US-based provider of automated bakery equipment solutions, completed the acquisition of Workhorse Automation Inc., an undisclosed transaction value. This strategic move empowers AMF Bakery Systems to fortify its product portfolio by incorporating Workhorse Automation's robotics technologies and extensive engineering proficiency. The amalgamation of these companies' technologies is poised to assist bakers in establishing highly efficient and automated bakeries. Notably, Workhorse Automation Inc., based in the United States, specializes in engineering and automated solutions tailored for the commercial baking industry.

Major companies operating in the food automation market include ABB Group, GEA Group AG, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Rexnord Corporation, Rockwell Automation Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Honeywell International Inc., Emerson Electric Company, Siemens AG, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, MicroThermics Inc., Semi-Bulk Systems Inc., Atlantic Packaging Products Ltd., Endress+Hauser Group, Krones AG, Tetra Pak International S.A., Robert Bosch GmbH, Duravant LLC, Bühler AG, JBT Corporation, Heat and Control Inc., Key Technology Inc., FANUC Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., KUKA AG, Adept Technology Inc., Stäubli International AG, Omron Corporation.

The primary objective of food automation is to enhance production line efficiencies, increase overall productivity and production quality, and ultimately boost profitability. This technology is applied across various food processing activities to minimize human intervention in processing tasks, encompassing food packaging, raw material mixing, and product preparation to ensure quality and hygienic production.

Key machine types within the food automation market include motors and generators, motor controls, discrete controllers and visualization, rotary products, linear products, among others. Motors and generators, as energy conversion devices, find extensive use in the food industry, particularly in automating processing and other operations. Their demand is sector-specific, notably in areas such as fish, poultry, dairy, and baking goods. Food automation machines exist in both semi-automatic and fully automatic forms, comprising components like plant instrumentation, plant-level controls, and enterprise-level controls. Applications of food automation are prevalent in various sectors, including bakery products, beverages, confectionery, snacks, fruits and vegetables, meat, and more.

The food automation market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides food automation market statistics, including food automation industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a food automation market share, detailed food automation market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the food automation industry. This food automation market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Western Europe was the largest region in the food automation market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the food automation market analysis report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.

The countries covered in the food automation market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, and USA.

The food automation market consists of sales of food automation machines including manufacturing execution systems (MES), variable-frequency drive (VFD), valves and actuators, electric motors, sensors, and transmitters among others. 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 creators 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.

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