Free-from and functional foods surge in demand
The free-from market continues to enjoy a surge in popularity, with consumers increasingly embracing eco-friendly and free-from alternatives.
In 2020, free-from values sales increased by 16.9% to break the £1bn ceiling (Mintel Market Report). This growth continued throughout 2021, with early reports showing demand soaring by 19.6% (£496.1m).
Against this backdrop, Free from Functional Food & Health Ingredients (barcelona.freefromfoodexpo.com) returns to the Fira, Barcelona from 7-8 June 2022. Registration is now open.
Since the start of the pandemic, the functional food industry has gone from strength to strength, with consumers seeking out products that deliver wellbeing benefits and support their immune systems.
According to ShelfNow, the business-to-business online marketplace, there has been a spike in sales of probiotics, gut-friendly drinks and fermented products, with growth expected throughout 2022 with the shift towards the more health-conscious consumer. Figures from Data Bridge Market Research back this up, with the latest reports predicting market growth at a CAGR of 6.70% in the forecast period of 2022-2029.
The picture in the plant-based sector is much the same, with consumers continuing to search for products that offer healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. Research by Mintel revealed that 25% of young millennials say that the pandemic has made a vegan diet more appealing, with half of those surveyed believing plant/botanical-based ingredients can have medicinal benefits (Mintel).
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