Japan Baby Food - Market Assessment and Forecasts to 2029

Japan Baby Food - Market Assessment and Forecasts to 2029

Summary

The number of live births in Japan declined by 23.1% during 2017-23, reaching 727,277 in 2023. This resulted in a baby population of 2.3 million in 2023. The GDP of Japan grew by 1.9% in 2023, while consumer price inflation stood at 2.6%. Overall sales in value terms declined in recent years with the sector registering a negative CAGR of 1% during 2017-23. In volume terms, sales decreased in 2023 registering a negative CAGR of 1.8% during 2017-23. Baby milks remained the largest category in value terms with over 55% of the baby food sector, followed by baby wet meals & others. Asahi Group Holdings and Meiji Holdings were the top two companies in 2023. Hypermarkets & supermarkets remained the leading distribution channel, accounting for over 45% of overall value sales in 2023. GlobalData estimates that the number of live births will decrease over the forecast period in Japan. The market for baby food in the country is expected to decrease in value terms during 2023-29, registering a negative CAGR of 1.5%.

Key Highlights

  • Value sales of baby milks grew from JPY62.9 billion ($561 million) in 2017 to JPY55.9 billion ($398.8 million) in 2023, registering a negative CAGR of 2% during this period.
  • Volumes of baby cereals & dry meals increased from 0.47 million kg in 2017 to 0.49 million kg in 2023, at a CAGR of 0.6%.
  • Value sales of the baby wet meals & others category rose from JPY22.5 billion ($201 million) in 2017 to JPY24.1 billion ($171.8 million) in 2023, at a CAGR of 1.1%.
  • During 2017-23, per capita consumption of baby finger food increased by 13.9%.
  • During 2017-23, per capita consumption of baby drinks increased by 8.2%.
Scope

This report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the baby food sector in Japan, as part of GlobalData’s global coverage of the sector. It includes an analysis of the following -
     
  • Market environment: The report provides a comparative analysis of the value and volume shares of Japan against the Asia-Pacific and global baby food sectors. Additionally, the per capita consumption (PCC)* of and per capita expenditure (PCE)* on baby food in Japan are compared at regional and global levels.
  • Background: Provides an overview of births, consumer trends, sociodemographic trends, working women population, and regulations in the Japanese baby food sector.
  • Category coverage and competitive landscape: The report offers an overview of growth at a sector level and provides an analysis of five categories: baby milks, baby cereals & dry meals, baby wet meals & others, baby finger food, and baby drinks. These categories are analyzed by value, volume, and CAGR for the 2017-29 period. The analysis also includes the PCC of and PCE on baby food in Japan, by category. The report provides an analysis of leading manufacturers and brands in the Japanese baby food sector in 2023 and their market shares in each category.
  • Production and trade: The report provides an analysis of imports and exports in the Japanese baby food sector.
  • Distribution channel: Provides analysis on the leading distribution channels at both sector and category level in 2023.
  • Economic background: The report also provides an outlook on macroeconomic indicators in Japan, with a detailed summary of the economy and labor market.
Reasons to Buy
  • Evaluate important changes in consumer behavior and identify profitable markets and areas for product innovation.
  • Analyse current and forecast behavior trends in each category to identify the best opportunities to exploit.
  • Detailed understanding of consumption by individual product categories in order to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market.
  • Investigates which categories are performing the best and how this is changing market dynamics.


  • Executive Summary
  • Market Environment
    • Value and Volume Growth Analysis by Region
    • Growth Analysis of Japan Compared with Other Leading Countries in Asia-Pacific
    • PCC and PCE in Japan Compared with Global and Asia-Pacific Markets
  • Background
    • Births - Live Birth Rates
      • Table Birth & population trends, 2008-29
    • Births - Measures to Increase the Birth Rate
      • Table Reasons why couples do not realize their ideal number of children, by survey and the wife's age (couples whose intended number of children is less than their ideal number of children), 2015 and 2021
    • Births - Live Births by Region
      • Table Live births by region, 2014 and 2017-2019
      • Table Live births by prefectures, 2019-23
    • The Consumer: Survey Insights
    • The Consumer
      • Table Expenditure on food by income group, 2019
      • Table Yearly average of monthly consumption expenditures and income, 2023
      • Table Use of commercial baby food, 1985, 1995, and 2005
      • Table Attitudes to commercial baby food, 2005
      • Table Concern about food allergies, 2009
      • Table Proportion of babies with allergies, 1999, 2004, 2009, and 2014
      • Table Consumption of sugary drinks and/or sweet snacks, 2015
      • Table Age of introduction of baby food, 2005 and 2015
    • Sociodemographic Trends
      • Table Births by age of mothers, 1990, 2000, 2013, and 2015-22
      • Table Number of women of childbearing age by age group, 2009-22
    • Working Women
      • Table Working women, 2013-23
      • Table Working women of childbearing age by age group, 2020
      • Table Mothers' working patterns, 2010
      • Table Trends in mothers' employment practices at marriage and first pregnancy, 2000-14
    • Parental Leave - Legislation
    • Breastfeeding Trends - Promotion
    • Breastfeeding Trends - Prevalence
      • Table Breastfeeding trends by age of baby, 2005, 2010, and 2015
      • Table Age when stopping use of follow-on/growing-up milk, 2005 and 2015
      • Table Age when stopping use of infant formula, 2005 and 2015
      • Table Breastfeeding at three months, by mothers' employment status, 2005 and 2015
    • Regulations
  • Overview
    • Japan Baby Food Sector Snapshot
    • Market Size Analysis
    • Manufacturer Shares
      • Table Baby food: manufacturer shares, value %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby food: manufacturer shares, volume %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby food: manufacturer shares by category, %, 2023
  • Category Analysis
    • Baby Milks
      • Market Size Analysis - Category: Baby Milks
      • Baby Milks: Per Capita Trends
      • Baby Milks: Per Capita Trends by Age Group
      • Baby Milks: Segmentation
        • Table Baby milks: brand price positioning analysis, 2023
      • Baby Milks: Manufacturers & Brands
        • Table Baby milks: manufacturer & brand shares, value and volume %, 2017-23
        • Table Baby milks: manufacturer & brand shares, value %, 2017-23
        • Table Baby milks: manufacturer & brand shares, volume %, 2017-23
  • Baby Cereals & Dry Meals
    • Market Size Analysis - Category: Baby Cereals & Dry Meals
    • Baby Cereals & Dry Meals: Per Capita Trends
    • Baby Cereals & Dry Meals: Segmentation
      • Table Baby cereals & dry meals: brand price positioning analysis, 2023
    • Baby Cereals & Dry Meals: Manufacturers & Brands
      • Table Baby cereals & dry meals: manufacturer & brand shares, value and volume %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby cereals & dry meals: manufacturer & brand shares, value %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby cereals & dry meals: manufacturer & brand shares, volume %, 2017-23
  • Baby Wet Meals & Others
    • Market Size Analysis - Category: Baby Wet Meals & Others
    • Baby Wet Meals & Others: Per Capita Trends
    • Baby Wet Meals & Others: Segmentation
      • Table Baby wet meals & others: brand price positioning analysis, 2023
    • Baby Wet Meals & Others: Manufacturers & Brands
      • Table Baby wet meals & others: manufacturer & brand shares, value and volume %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby wet meals & others: manufacturer & brand shares, value %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby wet meals & others: manufacturer & brand shares, volume %, 2017-23
  • Baby Finger Food
    • Market Size Analysis - Category: Baby Finger Food
    • Baby Finger Food: Per Capita Trends
    • Baby Finger Food: Segmentation
      • Table Baby finger food: brand price positioning analysis, 2023
    • Baby Finger Food: Manufacturers & Brands
      • Table Baby finger food: manufacturer & brand shares, value and volume %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby finger food: manufacturer & brand shares, value %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby finger food: manufacturer & brand shares, volume %, 2017-23
  • Baby Drinks
    • Market Size Analysis - Category: Baby Drinks
    • Baby Drinks: Per Capita Trends
    • Baby Drinks: Segmentation
      • Table Baby drinks: brand price positioning analysis, 2023
    • Baby Drinks: Manufacturers & Brands
      • Table Baby drinks: manufacturer & brand shares, value and volume %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby drinks: manufacturer & brand shares, value %, 2017-23
      • Table Baby drinks: manufacturer & brand shares, volume %, 2017-23
  • Production and Trade
    • Imports
    • Exports
    • Production
  • Distribution
    • Channel Share Analysis
    • Baby Food Retailing
      • Table Baby food: sales by outlet type, % value, 2017-23
      • Table Baby food: sales by type of food & outlet type, % value, 2023
  • Economic Background
    • GDP Growth and Inflation
  • Prospects and Forecasts
    • Future Trends
  • Appendix
    • Baby Population: A decline of 28.3% is expected during 2023-29
    • Sector Value: In 2023, the market's value sales amounted to $684.6 million
    • Sector Value: In constant price terms, sales decreased by 11.9% during 2017-23
    • Sector Volume: Baby food consumption amounted to 44.93 million kg in 2023
    • PCE: Expenditure per baby aged 0-36 months stood at $296.4 in 2023
    • PCE: Spending in real terms rose by 11.7% during 2017-23
    • PCC: Intake per baby aged 0-3 years was 19.5kg in 2023
    • Baby Milks: Growing-up milk was the largest segment in baby milks in 2023
    • Value Forecasts: During 2023-29, the value of the overall market will decline by 5.1%
    • Value Forecasts: Value sales in constant terms are anticipated to decline by 18.1% in 2029
    • Volume Forecasts: Baby food consumption will total 37.25 million kg in 2029
    • Per Capita Forecasts: PCE is forecast to reach $392 per baby in 2029
    • Per Capita Forecasts: In constant price terms, PCE is set to grow by 14.1% by 2029
    • Per Capita Forecasts: Intake per baby aged 0-3 years is set to stand at 22.5kg in 2029
    • Exchange Rates (LCU per $)
    • Store Checks: Baby finger food and baby wet meals & others led in terms of SKUs
  • Definitions
    • Definitions - Category
    • Definitions - Terminology
  • Methodology

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