Functional Foods & Beverages Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis
A functional food has to do more than the basic function of supplying nutrients. The basic category of functional foods includes processed food or foods fortified with additives, like "vitamin-enriched" products. Fermented foods with live cultures are considered functional foods with probiotic benefits.
Health-conscious consumers have supplied the demand to make functional foods an emerging field in food science. Yet, as consumers seek healthy choices, they are often skeptical about the benefits claimed by the companies developing new functional foods and beverages. The fact is the benefits are simply difficult to detect.
The industry suggests the establishment of a health claim regulating agency, which may increase consumer confidence. However, strict examination of some of the functional food claims may discourage some companies from launching their products.
The burgeoning industry was also impacted by poor global economic outlook. Many companies were forced to reposition themselves in response to the global economic downturn by lowering prices, eliminating divisions and rebranding products. Others grew by targeting products that consumers believe make an impact on their health. Product functionality is the most important consumer decision factor, generally outweighing cost sensitivity.
Consumer surveys on a wide range of functional food areas -- such as heart, digestive, immunity, cognitive, joint and bone health -- find that shoppers have high levels of interest, but much lower levels of actual purchase behavior.
Cognitive-health products are one example, as more than two-thirds of Americans say they are interested in products that increase concentration, but less than one in five actually buy such products. Narrowing this gap is crucial for the industry to turn functional foods and drinks from a novelty into a steady growing business in the long term.
Functional Foods & Beverages Industry Research & Market Reports
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Fortified/Functional Packaged Food in Russia
... category in FF packaged food, ahead of FF baby food. Within FF dairy, FF yoghurt (especially FF prebiotic yoghurt) dominates. In spite of the economic shock of the pandemic, retail current value sales of FF ... Read More
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Health and Wellness in Romania
... of health and wellness and an aim for protection against COVID-19 the good performance of HW packaged food types with specific claims. The COVID-19 pandemic has not had a negative impact on HW hot drinks, ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Thailand
... towards prevention over cure in terms of health, which fits well with the health and wellness trend, not least functional and high in vitamins products. This trend has been intensified by the effects of the ... Read More
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Better For You Beverages in Indonesia
... 2020. The main influence on this situation was the government's implementation of policies intended to relax the social distancing regulations that applied during 2020 in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Indonesia
... the strong recovery of category sales during the year was the promotional activity being undertaken by leading players. Various promotional campaigns were applied to popular brands during the year and these proved particularly effective in ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Packaged Food in Italy
... allies for the health of the intestinal microbiota - where 70% of the immune system is located. Immune-boosting foods are nothing new, but a growing number of people started paying greater attention to their eating ... Read More
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Naturally Healthy Beverages in Malaysia
... during the pandemic. More consumers have become conscious of their food and drink intake and are opting for healthier products with a natural positioning. Although growth slowed in 2021 this was largely due to economic ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Malaysia
... category of FF sports drinks. These products are used to rehydrate and replace lost electrolytes during and after exercise. With COVID-19 limiting access to gyms and sports clubs this resulted in a significant drop off ... Read More
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Better For You Beverages in Portugal
... leading to many consumers searching for perceived healthier and more natural products, including beverages. In 2021, this is continuing to have a positive impact on demand for better for you beverages, as local consumers increasingly ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Portugal
... as vitamins, for instance. This trend continues to benefit fortified/functional beverages in 2021. While regular juice drinks (up to 24% juice) is registering flat growth, references claiming high content of vitamins within the fortified/functional space ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Turkey
... addition, the prices of FF beverages are similar to the prices of regular products, which has also made them affordable to most consumers. Moreover, the value growth of FF hot drinks, namely FF fruit/herbal tea, ... Read More
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Better For You Beverages in Malaysia
... more carefully their weekly or monthly grocery shopping trips. This continued to limit impulse sales as shoppers worked through their shopping lists methodically in order to spend as little time as possible in retail outlets ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Hungary
... their overall health. This has been largely beneficial for FF beverages as many consumers have been turning to such beverages to get extra vitamins, minerals, and energy. FF bottled water for example is meant to ... Read More
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Health and Wellness in Hungary
... they tend to choose healthier products, with several benefits for the health condition of individuals. Immune system- strengthening products with high C and D vitamin content are a focus for consumers in 2020 and 2021, ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Packaged Food in Malaysia
... intake but are also scrutinising the nutritional information printed on packaging. Many consumers started looking for products that are fortified with vitamins and pre/probiotics that are able to boost the immune system and the digestive ... Read More
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Organic Beverages in Portugal
... growth of organic beverages. Portuguese are searching for soft drinks with higher nutritional value and this is benefiting juice and organic juice in particular, which is perceived to be healthier and more sustainable than regular ... Read More
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Health and Wellness in Portugal
... awareness amongst Portuguese consumers about the importance of a balanced diet for general good health and as a preventive way to support the immune system. This continues to have a positive impact on demand for ... Read More
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Health and Wellness in Malaysia
... pandemic began to take its toll. Nonetheless, while consumers have increased their focus on health and wellness the pandemic has also had a huge impact on the local economy with many businesses struggling and jobs ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Packaged Food in Turkey
... to the launch of new products, mostly containing extra protein. Many consumers are becoming aware that increased protein intake from healthy sources can help lead to a healthier and slimmer body. In response to the ... Read More
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Naturally Healthy Beverages in Turkey
... the volume and current value sales of bottled water has registered good growth as on-trade sales have shifted to the home, following the closure of foodservice establishments. Likewise, since people continued working from home in ... Read More
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Naturally Healthy Beverages in Hungary
... bottled water falls in the NH product area. Thanks to the numerous natural water springs around the country, the price of NH water is affordable in Hungary. Demand for hydration has also been further boosted ... Read More
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Better For You Beverages in Hungary
... to record growth since 2020. The increase in value sales is mainly explained by the increase in unit price for this product area amid strong inflationary pressure and rising demand for BFY beverages among more ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Packaged Food in Indonesia
... the edible oils sold in the country with a range of vitamins. To maximise the effectivity of this move and promote the success of its food fortification programme, the government of Indonesia has implemented the ... Read More
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Fortified/Functional Beverages in Italy
... time at home. With gyms, sports centres, and leisure facilities closed for a significant period, consumers had less need to purchase such products and less opportunity (as these venues comprise a notable proportion of FF ... Read More
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Naturally Healthy Beverages in Italy
... slight declines in 2020 and 2021). The impact of the pandemic (including stockpiling, home seclusion, and slight channel shifts) only marginally benefitted the NH beverages in 2020, with this continuing in 2021. Due to the ... Read More
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