Introduction
Baby food is any soft, easily consumed food other than breastmilk or infant formula that is made specifically for human babies between four and six months and two years old.
The food comes in many varieties and flavors that are purchased ready-made from producers, or it may be table food eaten by the family that has been mashed or otherwise broken down.
Some commercial baby food companies have expanded their lines to produce specialty foods for toddlers from the age of about 12 months to two and a half years old.
The target consumers of commercially-available baby food range from infants (babies aged 6 to 12 months) to toddlers (children up to three years old).
Experts recommend giving infant one new food every three days, watching closely for signs of allergic reaction, and avoiding choking hazards.
Meeting the nutritional needs of infants as they grow is essential for their healthy development.
Baby foods come in various pack sizes which range from 0-200 gms, 201 - 400 gms, 500 gms & above and with varied pack types such as box, Tin/Jar, refill, pouch.
Supermarkets, hypermarkets, small grocery retailers, and health & beauty retailers are the key distribution channels in the market. Supermarkets are the primarily preferred distribution channel among consumers, followed by health and beauty retailers.
Majority of parents prefer home-cooked baby food compared to packaged baby food for their infants. However, this trend has changed owing to the time constraints for food preparation due to increased participation of women at workplace and increasing concerns about the nutritional value of home-cooked food.
Table of Contents
Market Overview
The global baby food market size was valued at $67.3 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $96.3 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2021 to 2027
Latin America is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market for baby food, witnessing the highest CAGR of 7.21% during the forecast period (2017 - 2025).
Traditionally, babies are fed with soft home-cooked food. However, growing urbanization and changing lifestyles have increased the demand for packaged baby foods in different societies and cultures.
Key Trends
Key Market Players
The global market for baby food is fragmented, owing to the presence of large regional and domestic players in different countries. Emphasis is given on the merger, expansion, acquisition, and partnership of the companies along with new product development as strategic approaches adopted by the leading companies to boost their brand presence among consumers. Few of the leading companies in the baby food market are Nestle SA, Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Perrigo Company Plc., Danone, Hero Group, Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson & Company, LLC. and DMK Group etc.
Growth Drivers and Challenges
Increasing health awareness to provide nutrition regarding the overall development of the baby is a major factor propelling the growth of this market.
Increasing prevalence of lactating problems in women including breast engorgement and nipple infection have propelled the adoption of baby food products
Despite the opportunities, there are some challenges that remain. The challenges in procurement of raw ingredients and supply chain discrepancies may hinder the global production of baby foods in the upcoming years.
The decline in birth rates in developed countries and increase in the number of global competitors also present themselves as a challenge. The global market also faces other challenges, such as limited storage space, leading to possible waste due to the short shelf life of baby foods.