Infant Formula Market

Key Points Covered in Infant Formula Market Study

• Market estimates and forecast 2021-2031
• Key drivers and restraints impacting market growth
• Segment-wise, Country-wise, and Region-wise Analysis
• Competition Mapping and Benchmarking
• Brand share and Market Share Analysis
• Key Product Innovations and Regulatory Climate
• COVID-19 Impact on Infant Formula Market and How to Navigate
• Recommendation on Key Winning Strategies

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2016-2020 Global Infant Formula Market Outlook in Comparison to 2021-2031 Forecast

Strong growth is on the cards for global infant formula market on account of the rising demand for organic baby food across the globe for children under the age of five. Increasing cases of malnutrition among children and infants have propelled the need for infant formula.

Rising number of working mothers worldwide has encouraged the baby food companies to introduce nutrition-rich supplement facilitating the need for convenient feeding. Alongside this, companies are adopting eco-friendly ways for packaging material which have heightened the growth prospects for key players.

Key players including Nestle SA, Danone, and Abbott Nutrition are working towards developing animal-free baby food that contains same nutrients as mother’s milk. Cases of stunted growth, malnutrition, and rising number of women not able to lactate have accelerated the demand.

Favorable government initiatives, especially across China, India, and the U.S., have improved the adoption of infant formula. Consumers now conscious regarding the ingredients and label of content have compelled the companies to come up with clean-label manufacturing.

These factors are driving the adoption of organic baby food across the globe. Consistent need and awareness regarding the additional nutrition in a toddlers’ diet have encouraged the parents to invest in baby food supplements.

Consumers, particularly Gen-Z’s and young parents, prefer transparency and clean label products. Manufacturers are likely to capitalize on changing consumer preference to generate lucrative revenues over the forecast period.

As per Future Market Insights (FMI), the global infant formula market is poised to expand at an impressive CAGR of 10.60% in the next five years. The market also is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 38.8 Bn in 2021.

Rising Demand for Organic Infant Formula to Increase Sales

Rising awareness about factors influencing infants’ health and the importance of micronutrients in promoting growth are encouraging market players to introduce animal-free and organic products.

Consumers are becoming more conscious about their purchasing decisions with regards to infant formula, with increasing curiosity about the use of various ingredients in these products.

In order to meet with the rise in parents’ consciousness while choosing an infant formula, prominent market players are focusing on the launch of organic ingredients and hypo anti allergic baby food. These products are manufactured exclusively using plant-based and organic ingredients.

Industry giants such as Nestle, Abbott Nutrition, and Danone are incessantly focusing on innovative ingredients to incorporated specific health benefits in infant formula. Players are focusing on manufacturing formula enriched with vitamins and nutrition almost similar to mother’s milk.

With increasing sales of organic infant formula, global infant formula market demand is estimated to bolster exponentially over the forecast period across the globe.

Underlying Social Stigma in Developing Economies Likely to Stunt Growth

Breastfeeding is still considered to the preferred way to feed a child across many countries. It has been recognized a standard for good parenting since a long time. In some rural regions of Africa and India, there are still people not accepting the modern ways.

Underlying social stigma regarding the adoption of infant formula might hamper the growth in developing economies. Survey by Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding & lactation Education shows that women in the U.S. who chose to feed infant formula instead of breastfeeding suffered from emotional turmoil.

This can affect the growth of infant formula negatively over the coming years. However, increasing initiatives from private and public platforms to encourage the use of infant formula for healthy development of child is likely to negate the negative impact.

Country-wise Insights

How Will China Retain the Dominance of Leading Infant Market?

Growth of infant formula market across China is attributable to the expansion of online pharmacy and retail stores. Increasing demand for organic baby food and rising awareness regarding the health of new-borns have propelled the adoption.

With rise in number of women joining the workforce, need for convenient feeding with rich nutrition will amplify the sales of infant formulas over the coming years. Over the past few years, number of working women across China have substantially increased to provide support to the family.

Hence, this factor is playing a major role in driving the sales of infant formulas. As per FMI, China is anticipated to contribute nearly 90% of revenue share in Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region.

Sales of infant formulas will witness surge as demand for organic baby food rises. Thanks to the emerging Chinese manufacturers group, demand for organic baby food is necessitated by manufacturing companies launching innovative animal-free infant formulas.

While the consumer perception about the importance of infant formula in toddlers’ health remains significantly positive, demand is estimated to bolster across China.

Sales of infant formula are anticipated to rise with expansion of retail sector. With consumers now turning to online pharmacy and retail stores for the purchase of baby food, sales have increased.

How is the Demand for Infant Formulas Faring in India?

Issues concerning malnutrition and undernutrition among children under the age of five have increased with urbanization in the country. Now, with increasing number of mothers joining the workforce and corporate lifestyle have accelerated the need for convenient feeding with all the nutrition same as human milk.

Alongside this, rising cases of malnutrition children under the age of 5 have also prompted the adoption of infant formula across India. Child malnutrition is a chronic and longstanding issue in India.

The rate of child malnutrition is still alarming in India. As per the statistics of Global Hunger Index-2020, which is basically recorded on the basis of malnourished, stunted, and underdeveloped children, India ranks on the 94^th place among 107 countries.

Down To Earth Organization recorded at least 8 out of 342 surveyed districts in India have more than 50% prevalence of child stunting below the age of 5 in 2020.

From the 22 districts surveyed in 2021, percentage of stunted, wasted, and malnourished children increased or remain unchanged from 2017, which accounted for 68.2%.

Due to increasing burden of child mortality and stunted ratio, India launched few policies to curb the number of malnourished children in the country. Initiatives such as POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to curb malnutrition among children by providing intensified health & nutrition services for the first 1000 days through real-time monitoring.

Through this initiative the government encouraged the adoption of infant formula for the mothers not able to lactate. In its latest survey of POSHAN JAN ANDOLAN, from October 2020 to March 2021, around 7,315,163 children under the age of 5 were provided with all policy benefits.

Hence, with rising favourable initiatives adoption of infant formula will increase over the coming years. Rising demand for eco-friendly packaging and need for organic baby food will also propel the growth across India.

Future Market Insights estimates, India will be one of the most lucrative market across Asia Pacific excluding Japan during the forecast period.

What are the Factors Fueling Demand for Infant Formula in France and Germany?

As per FMI’s analysis, France and Germany are anticipated to register healthy growth over the forecast period. France and Germany are the key producers and exporters in the global infant formula market.

Rising demand for organic baby food have bolstered the demand of infant formula across Germany. Thanks to the presence of leading players across the country, manufacturing of infant formula is increasing with rising prevalence of online stores across the country.

Increasing penetration of online pharmacy and retail stores are facilitating the rising demand of infant baby formula across the country. Rising number of working mothers in Germany and France are contributing to the increasing manufacturing of infant formula.

Infant formula manufacturing companies across France such as Regilait, Jisser, LACTO FOOD FRANCE, and Lactalis are investing heavily in eco-friendly packaging catering demand. Need for organic baby food is also encouraging the companies to manufacture animal-free baby food for toddlers and infant.

For instance, leading player Danone opened an infant formula processing plant in Germany that is processing around 90,000 tonnes of formula to be exported to 70 countries across the globe.

Based on these aforementioned factors, Eastern Europe infant formula market is poised to expand at a positive rate over the forecast period.

Why is Demand for Infant Formula Rising in the U.S.?

The U.S. is a dominant country in North America. The U.S. is anticipated to account for maximum share in North America infant formula market.

Demand for infant formula across North America is set to rise at a steady CAGR of 4.9%, in which the U.S. contributes lion’s share for infant formula sales through 2031.

Rising demand for organic infant formula have increased the manufacturing among leading players, facilitating the increasing demand across the country. Rise in number of women participation in work force and need of high nutritional content in baby food is aiding the growth.

Presence of leading players including Nestle, Danone, Abbott, and Kraft Heinz are contributing nearly 50% of revenue share in infant formula market. Key players are forming alliances with the online retail stores and pharmacy stores catering increasing demand for vegan & organic baby food, generating lucrative revenue across the U.S.

Emergence of new players have aided the market growth through new product launches. For instance, in June 2021, ByHeart, a new infant formula U.S. based company announced the completion of its largest infant formula clinical trial and is on the track to become 4^th fully integrated FDA-registered, U.S. based infant formula brand in the country.

Presence of rising per capita healthcare expenditure and increasing number of working mothers have propelled the need for infant formula in the country. Percentage of working women in the U.S. is quite high and will continue to rise over the next decade.

As per Catalyst Organization-2019 report, 57.4% of women participate in the labor force as compared to 69% of men. Around 75,978,000 women were estimated under working force and is expected to continue to rise over the coming years.

With increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging and organic baby food, the U.S. infant formula market will witness steady growth during the assessment period, estimates Future Market Insights.

Category-wise Insights

Why is Demand for Starting Milk Formula High?

The starting milk formula is especially for the babies between the age of 0-6 months. Availability of starting milk formula in liquid, powder, and ready-to-eat form have improved the adoption among consumers.

Starting milk formula is recommended for the infants with lactose intolerance or need extra supplement and nutrition. With increasing cases of malnutrition among 0-6 old month babies have furthered the adoption of starting milk infant formula.

Globally, in 2020, World Health Organization recorded around 149 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted and 45 million were estimated to be too thin for height.

Only 44% of 0-6 month old infants receive proper breast feeding across the globe. Hence, governments have launched several initiatives, especially in the developing economies, to provide additional nutrition to these babies.

Rising urbanization and increasing disposable income combined with growing awareness about the early nutritional value in infant have encouraged parents to look for supplements that improves the baby’s health.

Subsequently, leading companies are coming up with innovative products that are enriched with such nutrients, especially for new-born babies in need for intensive care. For instance, Abbott Nutrition, in November 2020, introduced its first infant formula, Similac Pro-Advance.

The product was a big hit in Canada due to its key ingredient 2'-Fucosyllactose Oligosaccharide, which is beneficial for the babies 0-6 month old.

Among various types of infant formulas, starting milk formula will continue to remain significant over the coming years, estimates Future Market Insights. The segment is anticipated to hold over 50% of global market share during the forecast period.

How are Online Stores Contributing Towards Infant Formula Sales?

In terms of distribution channel, Future Market Insights have segmented the market into specialty outlets, supermarkets, online stores, pharmacy stores, and others.

With the emergence of e-commerce, manufacturers are completing alliances with online pharmacyies and retail stores. Unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 normalized dietary and nutritional supplements shopping through online stores.

As the world witnessed global shutdowns, supply chains diverted their businesses through e-commerce to maintain their foothold in the industry and curb the losses. As a result, online stores are anticipated to gain traction through 2021 & beyond.

As per Future Market Insights, pharmacy stores held over 3/4^th of global market shares in 2020, followed by supermarkets. However, with the pandemic, as consumers and store dealers faced global lockdown, market supply was dealt through online platforms.

Due to global reach through online distribution channel, dealers as well as suppliers witnessed increased profit and sustained the global supply-demand chain. Hence, online stores segment is expected to grow at an astounding CAGR during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The global infant formula market is dominated by few prominent players includes Nestle, Danone, Friesland Campina, Abbott, and Heinz. These few companies hold nearly 60% of the global market share.

Currently, dominance of emerging Chinese group of companies has led to severe competition and consolidation of the market. Joint ventures with western market leaders is the primary strategy of these emerging players to take over the lead position in the industry.

Portfolio expansion is another one of the key strategies adopted by key players to strengthen their foothold in the industry. Focus on packaging and new launches will aid the revenue generation.

For instance:      

• Fats and oils specialist Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC), in January 2021, announced the launch of new premium lipid ingredient for baby formula which claims to be a replica of mother’s milk in terms of taste, nutrition, and has a natural balance.
• In March 2021, 108LABS unveiled its new animal-free infant baby formula, Colostrupedis, that comprises of cell-cultured human milk molecules derived from human mammary cell agriculture and formulated with broadly-neutralizing human secretory antibodies.

Scope of Report

Key Questions Answered in the Report

• What is the current infant formula market value?

  The infant formula market is expected to surpass a valuation of US$ 38.8 Bn in 2021

• At what rate did the Infant formula market grow between 2016 and 2020?

  The infant formula market witnessed impressive growth at 9.50% CAGR between 2016 and 2020.

• What are the key trends driving infant formula sales?

  Rising demand for organic infant formula and prevalence of online shopping sites will increase the sales.

• Who are the leading players of infant formula?

  Nestle SA, Groupe Danone, Abbott Nutrition, The Kraft Heinz Company, and Friesland Campina are the top players leading the infant formula market.

• What is the demand outlook for North America infant formula market?

  Demand for infant formula will continue to rise backed by rising demand for organic baby food in the country, sales across North America are set to rise at a steady 4.9% CAGR.

• What is the Europe market outlook for infant formula?

  Eastern Europe infant formula market will exhibit healthy growth at 8% CAGR during the forecast period.

• Which are the top countries driving the infant formula market demand?

  Top countries in terms of infant formula sales are the U.S., France, Germany, Japan, and China.

• What is the market share of leading players in infant formula market?

  Leading players of global infant formula market is expected to contribute around 50-60% of total market share.

• What is the current market share of Japan in the global infant formula market?

  Japan will account for over 1.5% market share of global infant formula market in 2021.

Infant Formula Market by Category

By Product Type:

• Starting Milk Formula
• Follow-on Milk Formula
• Toddlers Milk Formula
• Special Milk Formula

By Distribution Channel:

• Specialty Outlets
• Supermarkets
• Online Stores
• Pharmacy Stores
• Others

By Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• Asia Pacific excluding Japan
• Japan
• Middle East & Africa (MEA)