Food Sweetener Market Growth To Witness High During 2024-2031 Driven By Increasing Health And Wellness Trends And Rising Demand For Low Calorie Alternatives
The Food Sweetener Market is estimated to be valued at USD 93.41 Bn in 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 2.2% over the forecast period (2024-2031). The growing demand for low calorie sweeteners from health-conscious consumers is a major factor driving the growth of the food sweetener market. Furthermore, the proliferation of artificial sweeteners in various food applications such as bakery goods, beverages, dairy products, and confectionery is also expected to support the market growth over the forecast period.
The food sweetener market is driven by increasing health and wellness trends and rising demand for low calorie alternatives. The growing prevalence of obesity and diabetes has prompted consumers to shift towards low calorie sugar substitutes. According to a study by WHO, worldwide obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975 and in 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. This has significantly boosted the adoption of sugar substitutes such as stevia, aspartame and sucralose which provide sweetness with lesser calories compared to sugar. Furthermore, shifting consumer preferences towards premium and organic products is also driving food companies to adopt clean label and natural sweeteners in their product formulations.
Increasing health awareness is driving the demand for low-calorie sweeteners
The growing health awareness among consumers has increased the demand for low-calorie and low-sugar food products. Many consumers are becoming conscious of the negative health impacts of excessive sugar consumption like obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. This has driven the demand for calorie-free or low-calorie alternative sweeteners that help in cutting down sugar and calories from diet. Food manufacturers are extensively using sweeteners like stevia, aspartame and sucralose in various food products as sugar substitutes to cater to the health-conscious consumers.
Rising income levels supporting premiumization of food products
With rising income levels globally, consumer spending on premium and higher value food & beverage products has increased significantly. Consumers today are willing to pay premium prices for improved taste, quality, and nutrition in the products. Food manufacturers are introducing healthier and premium product ranges with ingredient differentiators like natural and plant-based sweeteners to attract these discerning customers. The premiumization trend in the food industry is driving higher consumption of specialty and natural sweeteners instead of regular table sugar.
Side effects concern over artificial sweeteners
While low-calorie sweeteners help in sugar reduction, some artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin have raised safety concerns over potential side effects. Many scientific studies have linked their excessive consumption to health issues like headaches, diarrhea, and cancer. This negative publicity has created reluctance among some consumers to use artificial sweeteners. The uncertainty over their long-term health impact acts as a restraint for the growth of this market segment.
Difficulty in finding natural substitutes for sugar
Natural and plant-based sweeteners have gained widespread popularity due to consumer preference for clean label products. However, most natural sweeteners have limitations in perfectly mimicking the taste and functional properties of sugar. Stevia, for example, has an aftertaste which requires blending with other sweeteners. Developing natural sweeteners that can be effectively used by food manufacturers as a direct sugar replacement still remains a challenge. This technical difficulty hampers the large-scale adoption of natural sweeteners in the industry.
Innovation of novel zero-calorie sweeteners
With the growing zero-sugar trend, there exists a major opportunity for developing novel sweeteners that have no calorific value and more natural credentials. Companies are investing heavily in researching unique sweetener types through modification of existing plant compounds or extraction from new botanical sources. Successful innovation of such next-generation zero-calorie sweeteners will capture the high-growth market for sugar-free products.
Rising demand for sugar substitutes in beverages
The beverage industry is one of the largest application segments for food sweeteners globally. Within this, the demand for sugar-free and low-calorie beverages is growing exponentially with health-conscious consumers. Plant-based milk, energy drinks, juices, and flavored water present lucrative opportunities for sweetener manufacturers to introduce natural alternatives to sugar or artificial sweeteners. Partnerships with leading beverage brands can help increase market share in this high-growth beverage applications market.
Link - https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/food-sweetener-market-5289
Key Developments
- In May 2024, Ingredion, a leading global ingredients solutions provider, launched its PureCircle brand's Clean Taste Solubility Solution (CTSS), a first-of-its-kind stevia sweetener that mimics sugar without the need for additives in the manufacturing process
- In 2023, SweetLeaf, a leading brand in natural sweeteners, launched two new product lines to provide consumers with healthier sugar alternatives: Indulge Zero Calorie All-Purpose Sweeteners and 50% Reduced Calorie Sugars
- In 2023, Tate & Lyle, a leading global provider of food ingredients and solutions, launched a new line extension to its Dolcia Prima Allulose sweetening solution. The new Dolcia Prima Crystalline Allulose offers the same benefits as the existing Dolcia Prima Allulose Syrup, providing a low-calorie sweetener that mimics the taste and enjoyment of sugar without the calories.
- In October 2021, Sweegen, a global leader in health and wellness ingredients, announced plans to launch a zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetener called brazzein in early 2022. Brazzein is a small, heat-stable sweet protein that is 500 to 2,000 times sweeter than regular sugar.
Key Players
Tate & Lyle PLC, Cargill Incorporated, Archer Daniels Midland Company, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Ingredion Incorporated, Ajinomoto Co. Inc., S&W Seed Company, Manus Bio Inc. (NutraSweet), GLG Life Tech Corporation, Tereos SA, Celanese Corporation, Foodchem International Corporation, Kesar Enterprises Limited, GLG Life Tech Corporation, The Agrana Group, Kerry Group Plc., and International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
