The global gluten-free products market size is estimated to account for USD 5.6 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 8.3 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 8.1%. The gluten-free products market is driven by the rising prevalence of celiac disease and also growing population shifting towards healthier diets.
Opportunity: Adoption of micro-encapsulation technology to improve the shelf-life of gluten-free products
In conventional gluten-containing foods and food products, gluten proteins are responsible for the management and retention of moisture, which in turn, impart the products with a relatively long shelf-life. However, when the products are manufactured gluten-free, to cater to the increasing demand of the global end consumers, it tends to have a shorter shelf-life and, in most cases, lacks its texture aesthetics. Furthermore, it is tough for the key players to manufacture a line of gluten-free products to increase moisture retention and shelf-life. Thus, they require continuous R&D and incorporation of newer technologies to attain the desired shelf-life.
Microencapsulation is one such recent technology that can aid manufacturers to achieve this goal of increasing the shelf-life and texture of their range of gluten-free products. The same technology has been used to overcome the cardboard consistency of refrigerated pizza, rising crust pizza, and also for the shelf-life extension of frozen and refrigerated dough, frozen biscuit dough, scoop and bake frozen muffins, and biscuits.
The coatings used in the application of this technology are gluten-free. Further, there is a wide range of gluten-free fruit acids and lactic acid shelf-life extenders, which, when coated on the product, can help deliver optimum & consistent leavening, thereby overcoming pre-reactions. This can help in extending the shelf-life and deliver an all-natural taste and texture with good consumer appeal. Therefore, such newer technological innovations and formulations aid manufacturers of gluten-free foods and food products in producing long shelf-life products that can cater to the global demand, by transporting it across regions and which can be consumed over a longer period. For instance, companies such as Legacy Farms offer long shelf-life products, such as gluten-free cheese and broccoli bake, soup mixes, and pinto bean stews.
Leading players operating in the gluten-free products market include The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (US), The Kraft Heinz Company (US), Pinnacle Foods Inc. (US), Kellogg Company (US), and General Mills, Inc. (US). Key players in this market are adopting strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, new product launches, partnerships, and expansions to expand their customer base.
