Air-Dried Food Market Report 2026

The air-dried food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $126.9 billion in 2025 to $135.73 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth of outdoor and adventure food consumption, increasing household adoption of preserved foods, expansion of processed food manufacturing, rising demand for convenient meal solutions, improved air-drying technologies.

The air-dried food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $183.38 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing focus on minimally processed foods, expansion of health-oriented snack consumption, increasing demand for emergency and travel foods, rising adoption of sustainable food preservation methods, innovation in packaging for dried foods. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of clean-label air-dried food products, rising demand for long shelf-life foods, growing popularity of portable and lightweight foods, increased use of natural preservation techniques, product innovation in air-dried snacks.

The rising consumption of convenience foods is anticipated to support the growth of the air-dried food market in the coming years. Convenience foods are food products that are frozen, dried, or canned and can be prepared quickly and easily. Air-drying serves as a practical food preservation method by removing moisture to inhibit bacterial growth, extend shelf life, and reduce the risk of foodborne pathogens. Many convenience foods utilize air-drying because they are easy to prepare and store, offering a fast and simple alternative to products that require refrigeration. For example, in July 2023, according to Food and Drinks Malaysia by SIAL Group, a Malaysia-based food and beverage exhibition, the Malaysian convenience food sector grew by 3% in volume in 2023 and is projected to reach 7,829.2 kg by 2027. Additionally, convenience food revenue in Malaysia totaled $31.84 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.49% between 2022 and 2027. Therefore, the increasing demand for convenience foods is driving the expansion of the air-dried food market.

Companies operating in the air-dried food market are increasingly focusing on the development of innovative products, such as air-dried dog food, to deliver minimally processed, nutrient-dense diets that provide raw-style nutrition in a convenient format. Air-dried dog food is a gently dehydrated pet food designed to retain high nutritional value and palatability while offering improved storage stability and ease of use for pet owners. For instance, in November 2025, RAWZ Natural Pet Food, a US-based producer of premium, minimally processed pet nutrition products, introduced its Air Dried “Just for My Small Dog” Food line. This product range contains 96% meat and organ ingredients, functional fiber complexes, probiotics, and nutrient-rich components such as goat’s milk and green mussels to support digestive and overall health. The air-dried process helps preserve nutritional quality while providing a convenient, balanced, and breed-specific solution for small dogs across all life stages.

In June 2023, Thrive Foods, a US-based food manufacturing company, acquired Groneweg Group for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to integrate Groneweg Group’s freeze-dried offerings with Thrive Foods’ existing product portfolio, enabling customers to access a more geographically diverse range of products. Groneweg Group is a Germany-based manufacturer and producer of air-dried herbs and vegetables.

Major companies operating in the air-dried food market are Nestle S.A., PepsiCo. Inc., Unilever Group, Mars Incorporated, Mondelez International Inc., Asahi Group Holdings Ltd., General Mills Inc., Kellogg Company, Hormel Foods Corporation, Conagra Brands Inc., Ajinomoto Co. Inc., The J.M. Smucker Company, Silva International Inc., Milne MicroDried, Saraf Foods Pvt. Ltd., Royal Ridge Coffee Beans, European Freeze Dry Limited, Dehydrates Inc., Chelmer Foods Limited, Berrifine A/S, B-B Products Pvt. Ltd., BC Foods Inc., Harmony House, Howenia Enterprise Co. Ltd., DMH Ingredients Inc., Freeze-Dry Foods GmbH, La Frubense.

North America was the largest region in the air-dried food market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the air-dried 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 air-dried food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The air-dried food market consists of sales of air-dried nuts, air-dried seeds, air-dried spices, and air-drained gains. 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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