Gluten-Free Market to Hit $6.6 Billion by 2017

ROCKVILLE, Md.The market for gluten-free foods and beverages continues to grow faster than anticipated and will reach $4.2 billion by the end of 2012, according to a new report from Packaged Facts. While growth rates will moderate over the next five years in the wake of market expansion, U.S. sales of gluten-free foods and beverages will exceed $6.6 billion by 2017.

According to the Gluten-Free Foods and Beverages in the U.S." report, the gluten-free sector experienced a 28% CAGR over the 2008-2012 period, with snack/granola bars leading the category with 15% of overall sales.

Increasing diagnoses of celiac disease and food allergies; growing awareness of these ailments among patients, healthcare practitioners, and the general public; the availability of more products, and better ones, across a range of product categories; and a trend that has friends and family members eating gluten-free to support loved ones are among the factors stimulating continuing expansion in this market.

An August 2012 consumer survey by Packaged Facts showed 18% of adults are buying or consuming foods products tagged as gluten-free, up from 15% in October 2010. Moreover, the share of gluten-free consumers who are buying more of these foods has skyrocketed, and the share of total shoppers who are buying more gluten-free foods has doubled.

The conviction that gluten-free products are generally healthier is the top motivation for purchase of these products," said David Sprinkle, research director at Packaged Facts.