Market Trends of North America Baby Food Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the North America Baby Food Market according to our research experts:
Busy Lifestyle of Parents Fostering RTE Product Adaptation
- The role of a parent or mother/father is considered vital for a baby's overall development, especially regarding dietary and nutritional requirements. The changing societal landscape worldwide has ensured that the contribution of women toward the workforce and the economy is ever-increasing.
- For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the female participation rate in the labour force of the United States increased to 56.1% in 2021. It became challenging for working parents to take their time preparing regular meals for their babies. Thus, in the United States, where the female labour force participation rate is one of the highest globally, the demand for commercial baby food formulations is increasing in this regard due to the busy lifestyles of parents. Parents of 18- to 34-year-olds are North America's most significant demographic group of organic food buyers.
- Moreover, convenient packaging in the form of spouted squeeze pouches, which can be consumed straight from the refrigerator or by heating minimally in the microwave, is one of the major factors adding to the comfort of providing ready-to-eat baby foods. Manufacturers are increasingly offering baby food to restore the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables added to these ready-to-eat products.
- Packaging sustainability, now ranked highly by consumers at large, is also taking up its parts. At the same time, innovation, wherein in 2020, Nestlé launched a single-material pouch for its baby food products designed for the future of recycling. It will be 100% recyclable through Gerber's national recycling program with TerraCycle.
United States dominates the North America Baby Food Market
- In North America, the baby care industry is highly regulated, so consumers are conscious that their baby food products will be safe and nutritious. The United States was the dominant segment in the studied market, and the country accounted for a significant market share due to rising demand driven by a high birth rate.
- For instance, according to US Census Bureau, in 2021, the Hinesville metro area in Georgia ranked first with 20.4 births per 1,000 residents , followed by Odessa in Texas with 18.99 births per 1,000 residents.
- Additionally, changing lifestyles due to rising living standards and consumer awareness about nutritional diets for babies are expected to propel regional market growth further. Moreover, online channels are anticipated to experience encouraging expansion throughout the analysis. E-commerce websites are becoming increasingly popular with American customers. Growing modernization and many internet users are accelerating the expansion of online channels that sell infant food.
- Furthermore, the market has strong penetration of prepared organic baby food among United States consumers due to growth in dual-income families that has led convenience to be an integral part of the diet. The same can be seen in the ready meal segment growth. For organic baby foods, the growing demand for pouches and cup holders has been prominent over the past years.