Food Additives Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

Food Additives Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Food Additives Market size is estimated at USD 149.35 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 166.83 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.54% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

Driven by their multifunctionality, food additives like sweeteners, organic acids, and hydrocolloids are witnessing a surge in demand. These additives play diverse roles in food manufacturing, from structuring food and beverages to enhancing their nutritional profile and flavor, making them increasingly sought after by food companies. The market growth is further fueled by a rising appetite for convenience, ethnic, and processed food products, amplifying the need for advanced food packaging and processing solutions. Additives are extensively used to maintain the freshness, safety, taste, appearance, and texture of these processed and convenience food products. A testament to this trend, a 2023 survey by plant technology firm Ayana Bio, dubbed the “Ultra-processed Food Pulse survey,” revealed that 82% of U.S. adults incorporate ultra-processed foods into their diets. Technologies at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, such as artificial intelligence (AI) - encompassing CNN, ANN, fuzzy logic, and machine learning - are revolutionizing the production of ingredient additives. These technologies ensure the additives are cost-effective and nutrient-rich and optimize key attributes like high bioactive content (e.g., antioxidants), sustainability, authenticity, stability, and purity. Responding to the rising demand for sustainable food products with ethical claims, major ingredient companies like Cargill Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Company are leveraging AI tools in their supply chains. This integration fosters transparency, bolstering consumer trust and brand loyalty. The global trend towards plant-based food is amplifying the demand for natural and clean-label ingredients, particularly in categories like colorants, acidulants, and hydrocolloids. Labels boasting terms like GMO-free, natural preservatives, and organic are significantly propelling market growth. Given the worldwide uptick in processed food consumption and a preference for organic additives, the demand for food additives is poised to rise in the medium term.

Food Additives Market Trends

Demand for Bakery and Confectionery Drives the Use of Additives

Shifting customer preferences are fueling the demand for food additives. The rising demand for functional ingredients in bakery and confectionery products is largely attributed to their nutritional benefits. Bakery staples, including bread, buns, and biscuits, are integral to daily consumption. This widespread use across various regions is bolstering the market for food additives, encompassing flavors, preservatives, and emulsifiers. Emulsifiers play a pivotal role, offering benefits like protein strengthening, starch complexing, and aeration, making them indispensable in products like bread, biscuits, and cakes. Industrial bread production increasingly relies on emulsifiers, dough strengtheners, and dough softeners. Confectionery items, from chewing gums and chocolates to gummies, fillings, hard candies, marshmallows, and water jelly, also heavily incorporate food additives. Furthermore, bakeries and confectioneries frequently turn to artificial sweeteners to lower sugar content without sacrificing sweetness, a move that resonates with health-conscious consumers. Data from LocalCircles in 2023 highlighted that in India, 37% of artificial sweetener consumption was in food and drinks, with sugar-free gums trailing at 32%. Such extensive use of food additives in the bakery and confectionery sectors propels market growth.

North America Dominates the Market

The food and beverage additives market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for packaged food products. According to US News, over half of the packaged food and beverage products purchased by US households in 2019 contained three or more additives. By 2023, approximately 60% of the purchased foods included coloring or flavoring agents, preservatives, and sweeteners.

In Canada, the dominance of processed food and drink products (UPF) in the food supply, alongside their escalating sales and consumption trends, has led to an increased reliance on packaged, processed food items. As per the Food & Nutrition Policy for Public Health report, these items accounted for approximately 75% of the Canadian food supply during 2021-2022.

According to Mexico Food export reports, the Mexican food sector ranked as the third-largest processed food producer in the Americas, following the United States and Brazil in 2022. Also, the USDA 2022 report states that the bakery and tortilla sector stands out as the primary subsector in Mexico, contributing 30% to the overall GDP of the processed food industry, with meat and dairy products following closely behind. The corn tortilla is the primary staple food in the Mexican diet, with a per capita tortilla consumption of 75 kilograms (kg) per year as per USD Reports 2022. Moreover, the increasing consumption of beverages plays a pivotal role in driving demand for food additives in Mexico.

Food Additives Industry Overview

The global food additives market is highly competitive, with different regional and global players dominating the market. The prominent players in the market include Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Kerry Group, and Givaudan SA. These leading companies focus on mergers, expansion, acquisitions, partnerships with other companies, and product development as strategic approaches to boost their brand presence across different regional markets. The players have also been using aggressive advertising and promotional strategies to boost their brand image in the market studied.

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