The United Kingdom baby food market was valued at US$2.009 billion in 2020 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 3.91% over the forecast period to reach US$2.628 billion by 2027.
Introduction
The United Kingdom baby food market is witnessing substantial growth owing to the rising demand for organic food, which is proven to be healthy and full of nutrition components. The growing middle-class consumers and working female population are factors that contribute to the growth of the market. The innovations made in the baby foods like infant formulas, cereal, and fortified products all have a positive impact on the overall market growth. Moreover, several initiatives taken by the government of the United Kingdom are expected to drive market growth. For example- A coalition of 40 organizations named “End Hunger U.K” is encouraging the government of the United Kingdom to fund school programs and holiday food. In 2020, the government invested up to 11.8 million pounds to support the families who are facing food insecurity and provide children with healthy breakfasts. Market players operating in this sector have a great opportunity to enter the market by developing organic and home-style food and a wide range of snacks. Moreover, the growing demand for the highest safety and quality standard food by the parents for their infants is expected to bring newer products into the market, which can be projected to boost the market growth during the forecast period.
Market Drivers
One of the primary reasons driving the market's growth is the increasing demand for commercial infant food. The use of commercial infant food is increasing in the United Kingdom at a steady rate. In data published by a national infant feeding study, it was estimated that many infants aged between 4-6 months were fed ready-made food with a percentage rate of 38% compared to homemade baby food, which stands at only 28%. Additionally, almost half (45%) of mothers of 8–10-month-old babies use commercially prepared baby foods daily, with infants aged ten months or older more likely to be included in family meals. The increased reliance on commercially produced infant food is due to their benefits, such as different nutritional content, reduced microbial load, high taste profile, and reduced dietary variety. By analyzing various surveys, it was concluded that many mothers prefer commercial infant food as they find it more convenient when outside the home. They prefer pre-prepared food as it is sealed and safe to use, and easy to carry from one place to another. Moreover, improved economic conditions and high disposable income have resulted in increased expenditure by parents. They are willing to spend more on high-quality, nutritious food for the wellness of their babies, which is expected to drive the growth of the overall baby food market in the United Kingdom.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, is expected to act as a restraint to this market growth. Because of the pandemic, several countries worldwide went into lockdown, which completely disrupted the supply chain. Also, due to the economic fallout, consumer spending on baby food was estimated to be significantly less than the current scenario.
Competitive Insights
The increasing demand for commercial baby food has led to the entry of several new players in the UK baby food market. Now, to increase their clientele as well as increase their market share in the upcoming years, many of these market players have taken various strategic actions like partnerships and the development of novel solutions, which are expected to keep the market competitive and constantly evolving. Major market players like Nestle and others have been covered along with their relative competitive strategies. The report also mentions recent deals and investments of different market players over the last few years. The company profiles section details the business overview, financial performance (public companies) for the past few years, key products and services being offered, along with the recent deals and investments of these important players in the United Kingdom baby food market.
| Report Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Period | 2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data | 2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year | 2025 |
| Forecast Period | 2026 – 2031 |
| Report Metric | Details |
| Market size value in 2020 | US$2.009 billion |
| Market size value in 2027 | US$2.628 billion |
| Growth Rate | CAGR of 2.91% from 2020 to 2027 |
| Base year | 2020 |
| Forecast period | 2022–2027 |
| Forecast Unit (Value) | USD Billion |
| Segments covered | Product Type, Type, And Distribution Channel |
| Companies covered | Nestle, Hain Celestial, Abbott, HiPP, Holle baby food AG, Ella’s Kitchen Limited, Piccolo |
| Customization scope | Free report customization with purchase |
Segmentation: