Transitioning lifestyles and dietary practices

Globally, the gluten free food market trends vary with different government policies & regulations. For instance, (EU) No 609/2013 regulation provides food ingredients information to consumers. Increased awareness regarding healthy eating, and interest in aesthetic appeal is urging youngsters to consume healthy & nutritious foods. Additionally, online channel partnering of food chains & restaurants shall cumulatively impact the gluten free food sector. Furthermore, due to increasing shift towards growing spending on food shopping, high disposable incomes in developed countries, and health professionals poised to prescribe to gluten free diet, the gluten free food market shall witness further growth. Moreover, changing lifestyles of people in Asian countries such as India and China, the high prevalence of celiac disease, and increase in the number of various diseases, rising disposable incomes are some other factors expected to increase the demand for healthy and gluten free foods.

Rising Population & increasing corporate concentration in the food sector

China followed by India is the most populous country in the world. There are more than 1 million celiac disease cases per year in India. Increasing population & unhealthy lifestyles in developing countries, and burgeoning awareness regarding gluten free food is poised to increase the number of celiac disease patients. As per a research by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the benefits of global trade in terms of food access and nutrition will grind down the impact on tariff wars to be zero or negative. Therefore, adoption of gluten free diet is expected to lower down the number of celiac disease patients around the globe. Additionally, the increase in number of workforce in the IT and service industry and their adaption of various diets to overcome health issues is an additional advantage for the gluten free food market.

Global gluten free food market trends are heavily influenced by the increasing awareness about allergy control programs. Bakery & confectionary products held the largest market having approximately 37.6% volume share in 2018. In Europe, there is a huge consumption of bread. Gluten free breads that can be made by using brown rice, rye, gluten free oats, quinoa & other gluten free items are in high demand in Europe. Moreover, pizzas & pastas are mostly consumed as snacks and meals in Europe, and these products can now be easily altered with gluten free ingredients. New gluten free restaurants are also being established in the region, which has eased the consumption and visibility of gluten free products across several meal types. Condiments & spices are expected to grow at a much faster CAGR of 9.1%. Most condiments & spices are naturally gluten free and they are mostly consumed for adding up some extra taste in the gluten free food.

The main factor driving the gluten free food market is the high prevalence of celiac disease. Patients suffering from celiac disease need to follow a strict gluten free diet. According to the WHO, celiac disease affects 3 million Americans. According to the University of Chicago, the diagnosis of celiac disease is done by an intestinal biopsy and following gluten frees diets. The increasing marketing activities towards such foods will increase the overall gluten free food demand.

In Europe, consumption of bakery products, pizzas, and pastas is a part of their daily staple foods. Europe is the cuisine hub for breads, pizzas & pasta production. These factors tend to increase the market growth. The Europe gluten free food market reached USD 3.04 Bn in 2018 and expected to witness significant growth in coming years. According to DuPont, gluten-free dieters in Europe are more likely to be young millennials. Also, increasing physician recommendation over the adoption of gluten free diet has improved the sales of this market in Europe

In the United States, there are more than 2,000 gluten-free products available. An association named as the Gluten Intolerance Group, exists in the North America, which provides the list of gluten-free certified restaurants, products, recipes and through portal and local branches. Additionally, there is an upsurge in celebrity endorsements; and the adoption of Canadian labels on gluten-free products in Canada is increasing. All these factors will eventually drive the market growth in North America.