Pureed food is a mixture of ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and other various foods that have been blended to the consistency of a puree or paste. They are easy to chew and swallow making them suitable for babies starting solid foods, elderly people experiencing difficulty chewing and swallowing, and people recovering from illnesses, accidents or surgery. The pureed food market continues to grow in response to aging populations globally and a growing interest in health, wellness and nutrition. The Global Pureed Food Market is driven by increasing prevalence of dysphagia, growing number of babies born each year and rising health consciousness among people.

Global Pureed Food Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 1,224.9 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% over the forecast period 2024 to 2031.

Key Takeaways

Key players operating in the pureed food market are Blossom Foods, Döhler Group, Elite Pureed Meals, Gourmet Pureed, Ingredion Incorporated, Grünewald International, Fenix, AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, Polproduct, Uren Food Group Limited, Kiril Mischeff, Prodalim, SVZ Industrial Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients, Healthy Berries LTD., Smoothe Foods, The Punjab Kitchen Ltd, SVZ, Little Spoon, Inc., Moms Meals, and Thick-It. The demand for pureed food products is growing significantly owing to increasing health consciousness and rise in incidences of dysphagia. Technological advancements are also supporting growth of pureed food market through extended shelf life, varied packaging and innovative textures.

Market trends:

The Pureed Food Market Size is witnessing increasing demand for organic and plant-based pureed foods. Companies are launching innovative organic and plant-based pureed options made from fruits and vegetables to cater to growing health-conscious consumer base. Another key trend is customization and personalization of pureed foods. Manufacturers are offering wide range of customizable options to consumers in terms of textures, flavors and nutritional additions.

Market Opportunities:

The growing geriatric population suffering from dysphagia poses significant growth opportunities. Over 50% of population aged above 85 years suffer from dysphagia creating robust demand for easily consumable pureed food products. Another major opportunity lies in the baby food segment. Introduction of various pre-mixed vegetable, fruits and multi-grain pureed pouches and jars has been fueling the segment growth.

Impact of COVID-19 on Pureed Food market growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the pureed food market. During the initial lockdown phases, supply chains were disrupted due to restrictions on transportation and factory closures. This led to a shortage of pureed food products in the market. As the virus mainly affects elderly people and those with underlying health conditions, the demand for puree food saw a spike as they are easy to consume and support dietary needs. However, with restrictions gradually lifting, the market is recovering.

Pre-COVID, the pureed food market was growing at a moderate rate owing to the rising health awareness and improving medical nutrition therapy practices. The market saw growth opportunities in clinical nutrition, baby food, and elderly food segments. However, the pandemic accelerated the market growth in the short-term. With the susceptible population taking extra precautions, the demand surged across distribution channels. Meanwhile, manufacturers faced challenges in maintaining operations amid safety guidelines and worker shortages.

Going forward, the population growth, increased chronic diseases prevalence, and expansion of distribution networks are expected to drive the market. Also, the pandemic has raised awareness about nutrition and immunity, benefiting the pureed food sector. Companies are likely to focus on product innovation, e-commerce expansion, and enhancing production capacities to cater to the rising demand in the post-COVID market. Strategic mergers may also gain significance. While short-term disruptions were unavoidable, the long-term outlook for the pureed food industry remains positive.

In terms of value, the pureed food market in Europe accounted for the largest share, followed by North America pre-COVID. This is because of high health consciousness, advanced medical technologies, and presence of major manufacturers in these regions. Within Europe, countries like France, Germany, UK, and Italy contributed the most to the regional market. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market for pureed foods during the forecast period. Factors such as rising income levels, increasing health issues, growing elderly population, and enhancing medical infrastructure are expected to drive the demand in Asia Pacific. Overall, developing regions with large susceptible populations offer significant growth opportunities.

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