08.25.10
In the EU, the infant nutrition industry is undergoing a shift as a result of various market forces, according to a new from Business Insights. In the clinical nutrition segment, rising rates of premature birth are driving increased demand for products. In the baby milk segment, however, ongoing lobbying from industry groups and organizations promoting breast milk are constraining growth as some mothers decide to breast feed.
The baby food segment is unaffected by both of these trends and continues to expand with the introduction of new products, particularly those that focus on organic, healthy ingredients. This mirrors broader trends in other industries where consumer preferences are increasingly shifting towards natural, organic products. Several recent acquisitions have shifted the positions of the major infant nutrition players as larger companies expand their product portfolios.
It must be noted, however, that this report defines infant clinical nutrition as nutritional products used under the supervision (but not necessarily prescription) of a physician; therefore, forecasts may differ from some other infant clinical nutrition product estimates.
Key findings include:
• The overall EU infant nutrition market will expand by a strong 4.8% per year through 2013;
• Infant clinical nutrition will demonstrate the strongest growth, at 5.9% per year, on average, driven by rising rates of premature birth;
• New regulations restriction product claims and promotion of baby milk will inhibit growth, resulting in just 3.8% growth per year;
• New product introductions that incorporate new technologies and/or organic ingredients will support growth of baby foods, which will expand by 5.1% per year through 2013.
The baby food segment is unaffected by both of these trends and continues to expand with the introduction of new products, particularly those that focus on organic, healthy ingredients. This mirrors broader trends in other industries where consumer preferences are increasingly shifting towards natural, organic products. Several recent acquisitions have shifted the positions of the major infant nutrition players as larger companies expand their product portfolios.
It must be noted, however, that this report defines infant clinical nutrition as nutritional products used under the supervision (but not necessarily prescription) of a physician; therefore, forecasts may differ from some other infant clinical nutrition product estimates.
Key findings include:
• The overall EU infant nutrition market will expand by a strong 4.8% per year through 2013;
• Infant clinical nutrition will demonstrate the strongest growth, at 5.9% per year, on average, driven by rising rates of premature birth;
• New regulations restriction product claims and promotion of baby milk will inhibit growth, resulting in just 3.8% growth per year;
• New product introductions that incorporate new technologies and/or organic ingredients will support growth of baby foods, which will expand by 5.1% per year through 2013.