Spreads Market Research Reports & Industry Analysis

Decades ago, margarine was considered the “Holy Grail” when it came to controlling the health of your heart. Large companies came out with solid margarine and tub margarine versions of their best-selling premium butter, selling them as low-fat, unsaturated fat alternatives for baking, cooking, and as spreads for toast, pancakes, rolls, and more. Unfortunately, subsequently research showed that the hydrogenation process in the making of margarine can make the product unhealthful. When vegetable oil is turned into a solid by the process of hydrogenation, changes occur in its chemical composition. Trans isomers, or trans fatty acids are created – which have been found to lower HDL, or “good” cholesterol levels. Studies have found that the trans fatty acids found in margarine, a partially hydrogenated product, are worse for your heart than the saturated fats found in butter.

Companies have combated the “bad rap” of margarine by creating spreads that are not hydrogenated or ones in which the trans fatty acids have been removed. These new fat-free and low-fat margarines have virtually no trans fatty acids at all. Other companies combine their butter and their margarine products, providing taste with fewer trans fatty acids. Marketers have also discovered the beneficial aspects of margarine-like spreads that lower cholesterol, tapping into the highly-profitable nutraceuticals market.

Benecol, manufactured by the McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit of Johnson & Johnson and developed in Finland in conjunction with Raisio, was the first spread to introduce cholesterol-reducing ingredients: stanol esters made from pine tree extract. Plant stanol esters have been proven at the Mayo Clinic to reduce LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, by 14% with regular use (three servings per day for two weeks). Unilever/Best Foods’ Lipton division’s Take Control margarine substitute came out in the market at the same time as Benecol. Its plant esters are made from soybean oil extract and studies have found that it reduces the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol by 13%.

In 2000, the FDA gave Benecol and other products made with plant stanol esters permission to claim that they lower the risk of heart disease – when used in concert with a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol.

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Spreads Industry Research & Market Reports

  • Revenue Forecasts to (2031) and Analytics for the Snack Foods (Including Chips, Roasted Nuts and Peanut Butter) Manufacturing (U.S.): Financial Benchmarks, Metrics, P&L, KPIs, NAIC 311910

    ... rates and forecasts that will save countless hours of research. Key Findings: Snack Foods (Including Chips, Roasted Nuts and Peanut Butter) Manufacturing Industry (U.S.) to reach $62,819,097,386 by 2031. Snack Foods (Including Chips, Roasted Nuts ... Read More

  • Vegan Sauces, Dressings and Spreads

    ... is expected to reach US$493.2 Million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% over the analysis period 2023-2030. Sauces, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 7.1% CAGR ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Romania

    ... preserves, packaged formats face strong competition from home-made jams and grey market sales from small farms. Canning fresh fruits is a traditional pastime in Romania, particularly in rural areas but also in urban households. Rising ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Norway

    ... as the perceived unhealthy nature of many of the category’s products. Still, some degree of product innovation, a continued shift towards more premium-oriented alternatives, and, most importantly, the ingrained nature of these products in Norwegian ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Spain

    ... resulting in double-digit value growth but stagnation in volume, and volume consumption is set to remain flat in 2024 despite the stabilisation of prices. With sugar coming under ever greater scrutiny from health conscious consumers, ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in the Czech Republic

    ... spreads were viewed as non-essential, prompting some consumers to reduce or limit purchases of these products as an economy measure. Thus, the number of purchases made via promotional offers or discounts increased. More consumers sought ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Georgia

    ... the year. The relatively low unit price growth and increasing discounts from players, especially the dynamic Milka brand, are the main drivers behind this trend. Despite the absence of new major brands entering the market ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Chile

    ... for honey been on the up since the COVID-19 pandemic, and though per capita consumption in Chile is low compared to other countries in the regions, a considerable number of Chilean consumers incorporate honey into ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Croatia

    ... nut and seed based spreads, which is perceived as being healthier, due to the lower sugar content. Peanut butter is also increasingly popular with sports enthusiasts, due its high protein content. Examples of nut spreads ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Portugal

    ... use of irregular sized fruit is helping the category to reduce fruit waste. The utilisation of fruit peel, considered healthy due to its higher fibre content, is encouraged among producing companies to reduce production costs. ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Peru

    ... has prompted manufacturers to create sugar-free products that are free from warning labels. In addition, increased ecological awareness is driving the development of a wider range of products featuring local, often organic fruits and innovative ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Pakistan

    ... current value growth. The government has addressed the major problem of imported sweet spreads, especially from the Middle East, sold on the grey market. In 2024, the government cracked down on importers and distributors importing ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Ireland

    ... growth, overall volume sales of sweet spreads enjoyed a more robust increase compared to the previous year of the review period. Jams and preserves led volume growth, followed by nut and seed-based spreads and honey. ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Slovakia

    ... driving up unit prices at a time when many consumers were already grappling with financial challenges due to inflation and elevated interest rates. In response, shoppers were increasingly seeking price discounts and opting for larger ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Hungary

    ... with smaller contributions from a host of private label alternatives, including those by Tesco, Spar and Lidl. Despite the fact that consumers remain budget conscious when it came to food purchases, the brand’s value share ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Lithuania

    ... sugar and fruit increasing, and the time required for home preparation, it can be more economical and convenient to buy commercially produced jam and preserves. Regional ingredients continue to dominate the market, with cherry, strawberry, ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Taiwan

    ... volume and value terms. There was a marked improvement in the retail performance of sweet spreads compared to 2023 levels, when the trend of revenge travel and increased dining out led to a decline in ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Costa Rica

    ... in retail volume sales. Rising health-consciousness among the population has continued to buoy demand, as this product type is renowned for being a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, and appreciation for its immune-boosting ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Ecuador

    ... its number of stores nationwide, making its private label products more widely available. A standout brand, Nutzel, imported directly from Germany, has gained popularity by offering high-quality taste at nearly half the price of mainstream ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Guatemala

    ... this expanding selection, with choices including Tres Cebollas Deli Hagen, Kib Frambuesa Chipotle, and St Dalfour Fig Royale. While these premium flavours are appealing to wealthier consumers, lower-income consumers continue to gravitate towards more affordable ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Finland

    ... sweet spreads is a mature category in the country, thus players are active in offering different flavour profiles and value-added options in order to stand out from the competition. Euromonitor International's Sweet Spreads in Finland ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Italy

    ... robust. Like edible oils players, beekeepers face multiple production challenges. Climate change, with cloudbursts alternating with periods of drought, can damage the flowering of plants and affect the production of honey. In addition, the increasing ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in the United Kingdom

    ... by growing awareness of its health benefits and perception as a more wholesome alternative to artificial sweeteners. As consumers increasingly seek natural and unprocessed options, honey's appeal as a better-for-you product continues to rise. Its ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in Singapore

    ... occurs during breakfast, typically on toast, which restricts their penetration into broader meal occasions. Moreover, the increasing focus on health and wellness has diminished the popularity of jams and preserves, as consumers become more discerning ... Read More

  • Sweet Spreads in the Netherlands

    ... in sugar prices. In 2024, some additional price increases were noted across various segments within the sweet spreads category. However, increases in 2024 were not as extreme as those experienced the previous year, indicating a ... Read More

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