Lactose is the main sugar present in milk, which many people are unable to digest due to the lack of the enzyme lactase. According to studies, nearly 65% of the global population suffers from some level of lactose intolerance and the prevalence is much higher in some parts of Asia and Africa. With rising awareness around the symptoms and impacts of lactose intolerance, there is growing demand for lactose free foods among consumers.
The Global Lactose Free Food Market Size is estimated to be valued at US$ 18.73 Bn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the lactose free food are Cargill, Inc., Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Inc., Green Valley Organics, Edlong Dairy Technologies, Parmalat SpA, Valio Ltd., Alpro, OMIRA Oberland-Milchverwertung, Crowley Foods, Arla Foods., Danone SA, General Mills Inc., Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Kerry Group PLC, Emmi AG, WhiteWave Foods, Barry Callebaut AG, HP Hood LLC, Valio Ltd, Daiya Foods Inc. Major opportunities in the market lie in the development of innovative lactose free products that cater to various tastes and preferences. With rising global prevalence of lactose intolerance, there is huge potential for lactose free food manufacturers to expand operations to new international markets.
Key players operating in the lactose free food are focusing on investments in R&D to roll out new and varied lactose free food products. This helps address the specific needs of lactose intolerant consumers better and also attracts a wider consumer base. Another major opportunity for players lies in the rising popularity of plant-based dairy alternatives like oat milk, almond milk etc. The global expansion of leading brands through strategic partnerships and acquisitions will also be important to cater to the large consumer demand worldwide.
Market drivers and restrain
The key driver augmenting the growth of the global lactose free food market is the rising global prevalence of lactose intolerance. As per data, over 65% of the world's population experiences some level of lactose intolerance after infancy due to the lack of lactase enzyme. This has driven huge demand for specially formulated lactose free foods. Another major market driver is the growing health and wellness trend. Increasing consumer awareness about digestive health issues and personalizing diets has fueled the uptake of lactose free alternatives.
However, high costs of lactose free products compared to regular dairy may restrain the market potential to some extent. The processing involved in removing or replacing lactose makes these foods more expensive. It may limit adoption in price-sensitive regions. In addition, limited awareness in developing nations poses a market challenge. Ensuring global availability and affordability through innovations will be critical for sustained market expansion.
Segment Analysis
The lactose-free food market comprises several sub-segments. The dairy-based segment dominates the market currently due to a large consumer base being lactose intolerant and preferring dairy alternatives. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cheese are the most widely consumed foods but contain lactose. Therefore, the availability of lactose-free variants of these dairy products has seen high demand. This sub-segment is expected to continue its dominance in the coming years as well due to the difficulty in completely removing dairy from diets and consumers still wishing to enjoy the taste of dairy.
Global Analysis
Regionally, North America currently accounts for the largest share in the global lactose-free food market owing to rising cases of lactose intolerance. Moreover, growing health awareness regarding the benefits of such products is driving higher consumption. Europe follows North America in terms of market share and is also witnessing considerable growth. This can be attributed to increasing preferences for healthy and nutritious products. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period with nations like India and China experiencing rapid development. Rising disposable incomes and shifting preferences towards western diets are boosting the demand in these developing economies.
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