Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Size:
Saudi Arabia baby food market is anticipated to expand at a high CAGR over the forecast period.
Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Key Highlights:
The Saudi Arabian baby food market is experiencing steady growth. The increasing disposable income, improvement in the healthcare ecosystem, in addition to the presence of key market players and demand for convenience products in the country, are driving the baby food market in the country.
According to the World Bank, Saudi Arabia’s population is currently estimated at over 35.30 million, from approximately. 28.3 million in 2014. The growth in the Saudi Arabian population is giving a boost to the user base, driving the market growth positively. With better healthcare infrastructure, with investments in hospitals, pediatric care, and nutritional programs under Vision 2030, a decline in the infant mortality rate and a rise in disposable income, the country is offering a robust market. Thus, the growing urbanization, growth in working women stats and demand for convenience foods, parents’ growing awareness, and growing disposable income are driving the market.
Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Overview
| Report Metric |
Details |
| Study Period |
2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data |
2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year |
2025 |
| Forecast Period |
2026 – 2031 |
& Scope
The Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market is segmented by:
- Type: The Saudi Arabian baby food market by type is segmented into organic and non-organic categories. With growing awareness, there is an increasing demand for organic products, while non-organic products remain dominant due to affordability and widespread availability.
- Age Group: By age group, the Saudi Arabian baby food market is segmented into 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 12–24 months, and 2–4 years.
- Product: The market by product is divided into dried baby food, milk formula, prepared baby food, and others, such as snacks, beverages and others. Milk formula dominates the market due to high demand among working women and breastfeeding challenges, while prepared baby food demand is growing. Dried baby food, such as cereals and powdered mixes, is driven by growing demand for convenience. Others are smaller in share and have niche appeal.
- Distribution Channel: The products are distributed through online and offline channels. Offline through supermarkets, pharmacies, convenience stores, and other specialty stores holds a key market share. Online is a growing segment, driven by e-commerce convenience, variety, and promotions.
Top Trends Shaping the Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market
- Growing Demand for Clean-Label Baby Food
- As people are getting more consequences of synthetic products, driving the demand for clean-label, free from synthetic additives, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, baby food products. As a result, domestic and international corporations have expanded their product portfolio to improve their market share in the upcoming years.
- In addition, increased developments by major players in the market will also propel the market growth in the country during the projected period.
- Growth towards Premium Food
- The market is experiencing a trend for organic products and natural baby foods. The market is also transitioning from mass-market products to premium products due to rising per capita income and growing spending on child nutrition. Premium consumers are also driving the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly packaging of these baby food products.
Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Growth Drivers vs. Challenges
Drivers:
- Rising Awareness for Baby Nutrition for Proper Growth: Owing to the rising awareness regarding the healthy substitute diet for infants, the demand for such baby food has increased in Saudi Arabia in recent times. Market players are developing the product by launching new products into the market to meet the same demand and to provide more new and healthy options. In addition to this, the increase in per capita income has also led to an in-crease in consumer spending. This led consumers to buy the new products on the market. Baby products are essential for infants, which has piqued the interest of infant parents. Whereas Saudi Arabia has been gradually adapting to the process of westernisation during the last few years.
- Growing number of Working Women: The growth in the number of working women in Saudi Arabia is also projected to drive the market potential of baby food in the country over the next few years. Growing nutrition awareness, increased structured retail marketing, and urbanization are several factors propelling the baby food industry forward in the country. As per the World Bank, the female participation in the workforce has increased drastically post-2017, which was at 11.5%. It moved from 11.5% in 2017 to 19.7% in 2024.
Challenges:
- Promotion of Breastfeeding: According to the World Health Organization report, Saudi Arabia's government spends 6.5% of its national income on health. The government promotes breastfeeding in the country owing to its long-lasting health benefits for infants. Provisions such as maternity leave have also been implemented in Saudi Arabia to provide a greater work-life balance for women. Health professionals in Saudi Arabia also encourage mothers to practice breastfeeding for the nutritional growth of infants. This is one of the factors hampering the growth of baby food products, particularly for the infant milk formula.
Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Competitive Landscape
The market is moderately fragmented with dominance of international brands and local brands such as Nestle, Abbott, Reckitt Benckiser, Novolac, Kraft Heinz Company, Danone S.A., HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG, Holle Baby Food GmbH and Others. The market is moderately competitive, with a huge dominance of internal players, particularly in baby milk, driven by strong distribution networks and brand loyalty. Competition is intensifying due to e-commerce growth, price pressures from economic challenges, and a shift toward premium, health-focused offerings.
- Agreement: In September 2024, Nestlé signed an agreement with MODON to establish its first food factory in Saudi Arabia with 270 million riyals investment. It allocates a 117,000 square meter plot in Jeddah city's Third Industrial City for the facility.
Saudi Arabia Baby Food Market Segmentation:
- By Type
- Organic Baby Food
- Non-Organic Baby Food
- By Age Group
- 0–6 Months
- 6–12 Months
- 12–24 Months
- 2–4 Years
- By Product
- Dried Baby Food
- Milk Formula
- Prepared Baby Food
- Others
- By End-User