Global Lactose Free Food Market Size |
The global lactose free food market is composed of
various products including milk, yogurt, ice creams, desserts and chocolates
that have been manufactured to be low in lactose or free from lactose. 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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