Baby Food (Milk Formula, Prepared Meals, Dried, Others) Market Overview, 2024-29

The baby food market industry is a dynamic and rapidly growing sector that caters to the nutritional needs of infants and toddlers worldwide. Comprising a diverse range of products such as infant formula, baby cereals, purees, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, this industry serves a crucial role in supporting the healthy development of young children. The market is driven by several key factors, including rising birth rates, increasing urbanization, changing lifestyles, and growing awareness of the importance of early childhood nutrition. As parents increasingly prioritize convenience, safety, and nutritional value, manufacturers are innovating to offer a wide variety of products that meet these evolving needs.

Furthermore, there is a notable trend towards organic and natural baby food products, reflecting broader consumer preferences for healthier and cleaner eating options. Stringent regulatory standards ensure the safety and quality of baby food products, fostering consumer trust and confidence. With the expansion of e-commerce platforms and digital technologies, distribution channels are becoming increasingly diverse, providing consumers with greater accessibility and choice. With a growing global population and increasing awareness among parents about the importance of early childhood nutrition, the demand for high-quality and convenient baby food products continues to rise. Manufacturers in this industry continually innovate to meet evolving consumer preferences, including a shift towards organic, natural, and clean-label options. Regulatory standards ensure the safety and quality of baby food products, instilling confidence among consumers. According to United Nations International Children’s Security Fund (UNICEF), it is estimated that half of all deaths in children under the age of 5 are because of an alarming level of malnutrition across the globe.

According to the research report, “Global Baby Food Market Overview, 2029”, the Global Baby Food Market was valued at more than USD 92 Billion in 2023, and expected to reach a market size of more than USD 123 Billion by 2029. The CAGR to grow at more than 4.58% CAGR from 2024 to 2029. The growth of the middle-class economy in the globally with increasing disposable income, along with the increasing number of working female population living a hectic lifestyle are factors boosting the market. Changing consumers behaviours have shifted them towards more conscious health decisions about themselves and their baby, which leads to the increasing demand for natural and organic baby food.

Thus, premium quality products and their safety are amongst the criterion which heavily influences the buyer’s decision. The growing demand for gluten free baby food is also helping the market grow, along with this other food consumption trends like organic food products and vegan alternatives are gaining momentum in the market. Furthermore, the rising consciousness for quality products in the market have steered the manufacturers towards making active decision about their product Quality, this has also propelled competition globally and led to the consumers benefiting from it. The consultants and medical doctors also advise use of baby food products, making the consumer aware about the benefits and in turn driving the adoption rate upwards. Globally different consumer perceptions are observed about the product. Regions like North America and Europe are actively consuming these products for their babies which help the market grow. Whilst, regions like Asia pacific and Middle East & Africa consist of developing economies where the consumer perceive these products obsolete and give preference to home cooked meal. South America has contributed immensely in recent times with the market observing higher adoption rate in consumers with the increasing disposable income and awareness.

Infant formula is a critical product in the baby food market, providing essential nutrients for babies who are not breastfed or require supplementation. These formulas are carefully designed to mimic the nutritional profile of breast milk, containing proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Specialty formulas are also available for infants with specific dietary needs, such as hypoallergenic formulas, lactose-free options, and formulas fortified with additional nutrients like DHA and ARA for brain development. Baby cereals are often one of the first solid foods introduced to infants. These cereals are typically fortified with essential nutrients such as iron, which is crucial for cognitive development.

Baby cereals can be mixed with breast milk, formula, or water to create a smooth consistency suitable for young infants. Varieties include rice cereal, oatmeal, and multigrain options. Purees and solid baby foods are designed for infants who are ready to transition to more solid foods. These products come in a wide range of flavors and ingredient combinations, including single-ingredient purees (like apple or carrot) and multi-ingredient blends (such as fruit and vegetable mixes). Purees are often packaged in jars, pouches, or tubs for convenience. As infants grow older, chunkier textures and more complex meals are introduced to help them develop chewing skills.

The baby food market industry boasts a diverse array of distribution channels and product categories tailored to meet the nutritional requirements of infants and toddlers globally. Traditional brick-and-mortar retailers like supermarkets, hypermarkets, pharmacies, and specialized baby stores remain pivotal, offering accessibility and convenience, particularly in urban areas. Concurrently, the advent of digital technologies has revolutionized distribution, with e-commerce platforms providing convenience and an extensive product selection via online marketplaces and dedicated baby food websites. Direct-to-consumer sales through company websites and partnerships with healthcare providers further enrich the distribution landscape.

Product categories within the baby food market span infant formula, offering essential nutrients for non-breastfed babies or those with specific dietary needs, and baby cereals, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals crucial for early growth. Purees crafted from fruits, vegetables, and meats provide convenient options for transitioning to solid foods, while snacks such as teething biscuits and fruit bars encourage self-feeding and motor skill development in older infants. Ready-to-eat meals offer pre-portioned servings of balanced ingredients, catering to busy parents and ensuring nutritional adequacy for young children. Furthermore, there's a growing preference for organic and natural baby food products, reflecting broader consumer trends toward healthier eating choices. Stringent regulatory standards underpin the safety and quality of baby food products, fostering trust and confidence among consumers.

However, shifting preferences of the peoples towards the fact that homemade food is trustworthy for infants and toddlers affects negatively the baby food market. According to CNN Health, 95% of tested baby food contains toxic metals which leads to damage to the brain development of the children’s results in significantly reduces demand for baby food. In infant nutrition, parents demand the highest safety and quality standards. Key players in the market constantly reform products to make them more appealing to both parents and infants.

The rising phenomenon of the organized retail market, especially in developing economies, is expected to drive the market's growth over the forecast period. There is a paradigm shift in the organization of modern households, with most adults lacking time for home administration, particularly food preparation and cooking. As a result, there has been a rise in the demand for ready-to-eat or packaged foods.

Recent Developments

• In 2021, Danone announced the launch of the first-ever formula milk in the United Kingdom to be sold in a pre-measured tab format in response to the parent's desire for greater convenience and ease when preparing formula milk feeds.
• In 2020, Danone SA acquired Murray Goulburn Dairy (Qingdao) Co. Ltd from Saputo Dairy Australia. This transaction includes a registered infant milk formula brand and a facility located in Qingdao, and it was completed in June 2020. Danone now has its first production facility for infant milk formula in China.
• In April 2021, the Kraft Heinz Company developed a plant-based baby food line to give newborns a high-quality vegan diet. The food line includes Saucy Pasta Stars with beans and carrots, Potato Bake with green beans and sweet garden peas, and Risotto with chickpeas and pumpkin.

COVID-19 Impact

The pandemic affected many different industry Verticals across the globe including the baby food market. With the initial outbreak of the virus a certain fear amongst the consumer in some regions relating to food availability the market observed a slight boost in terms of revenue. But after the advent of lockdowns and travel restriction across the globe the consumers shifted to homemade meals for their babies which created a negative impact on the market. With the pandemic a shift in consumer behaviour was observed which led to more health-conscious practices and eliminating of baby food consumption.

Major Companies Included: The Hain Celestial Group, The Kraft Heinz Company, Perrigo Company plc, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, Hero Group, HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG, Arla Food, Danone, Ella's Kitchen, Friesland Campina, Ausnutria, Beingmate, Sun-Growers of California.

Considered in the report

• Geography: Global
• Base year: 2023
• Historical year: 2018
• Forecasted year: 2029

Region covered

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• South America
• Middle East and Africa

Aspects covered in the report

• Market Size by Value for the period (2018-2029F)
• Market Share by Product Type (Milk Formula, Dried Baby Food, Cereals, Others)
• Market Share by Channel Sales (Hyper/Supermarket, Convenience store, Pharmacy/ Drugstores, Online)
• Market Share by Region
• Market Share by Country
• Market Share by Company

The approach of the report

We keep an eye on evolving markets and try to evaluate the potential of the products and services. If we find the market interesting, we start working on it and create the desired table of content, considering all aspects of the business. We start by creating separate questionnaires for C-level executives, national/regional sales personnel, company owners, dealers, distributors, and end-users. Once the questionnaires have been finalized, we start collecting the primary data (mostly through phone calls) and try to understand the market dynamics regionally or tier-wise.

This process gives us in-depth details of the market, including all present companies, the top-performing products with reasons why they dominate; we get the details of new players and their innovative approaches; market trends; dynamics; and all the small details of the market. After the collection of primary inputs, we then cross-check the same with secondary sources that include associations, trade journals, annual reports, paid databases, newspapers, magazines, press releases, government sources, etc. From this, we get a rough estimate of the market and start checking existing product price variants, trade, production, raw material scenarios, policies and regulatory landscape, etc. Then, to finalize the market, we start collecting financials of each player present in the market, including limited, private limited, and LLPs. Moreover, we perform cross-industry and cross-region analysis of the product, and based on collected primary inputs and using statistical modeling, we start forecasting the market. We follow our forecasting algorithm, which is unique for each product but gives more weight age to primary inputs. At the same time, the content team starts preparing company profiles, market dynamics, market trends, five forces, PEST analysis, etc. Once the data is verified by the data expert, the team (primary team, content team, and data team) together crosscheck the segmentations, validate the market, and then the designing team starts plotting the graphs. Once the file is ready, the content team completes the report and makes sure that all the discussed points have been covered and provides their valuable inputs in the form of strategic recommendations for new as well as existing players. The QC team then checks the overall report that includes spell check, data verification, and makes the same dispatch ready and error-free.

Intended Audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the Consumer goods and Service 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.

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