Gitnux/Report 2026

Baby Food Industry Statistics

Mead Johnson (Reckitt) held 22.1% of U.S. baby food retail share in 2023—discover how brand momentum is shaping what families buy next.
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November 11, 2026Updated
Baby Food Industry Statistics
Elif DemirciWritten by Elif Demirci·Edited by David Sutherland·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Gitnux editors write the brief first: the topic, the inclusion rules, and the frame for what belongs.

02Source Research

Agents search the published record and log every extracted figure back to the passage it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 31 days

01 Industry overview

The baby food industry at a glance

The global baby food market reached $115.79 billion in 2025, with Asia Pacific accounting for 64.35% of sales and infant formula remaining the largest product category.

$115.79B[81]
Global market size, 2025
7.17%[81]
Global CAGR, 2026–2034
64.35%[81]
Asia Pacific share, 2025
63.9%[82]
Infant formula share, 2025
Market size
The global baby food market was valued at $115.79 billion in 2025. A separate estimate for the global market put 2025 sales at $82.43 billion, reflecting differences in category scope and methodology.[81][83]
Forecast & CAGR
Fortune Business Insights projects the market to grow from $123.16 billion in 2026 to $214.28 billion in 2034, equivalent to a 7.17% CAGR. The Business Research Company forecasts growth from $82.43 billion in 2025 to $107.65 billion in 2030 at a 5.4% CAGR.[81][83]
Market share & regions
Asia Pacific represented 64.35% of the global baby food market in 2025 according to Fortune Business Insights. Euromonitor reported that Asia Pacific accounted for half of global baby food sales and that China represented 65% of Asia’s baby food retail sales in 2024.[81][84]
Segmentation
Infant formula accounted for 63.9% of the global store-bought baby food market in 2025, with revenue of $61.53 billion. Common market segments include formula, prepared baby food, cereals, snacks, beverages, and products differentiated by age, organic status, and distribution channel.[82][81]
Key players & concentration
In the European Union, the four largest fast-moving consumer goods suppliers held 68% of the dried baby food market and 69% of the milk formula market in 2024, while private-label shares were 5% and 3%, respectively. In the United States, Abbott, Nestlé, and Reckitt collectively held more than 60% of the baby food market in 2022.[85][78]
Pricing
U.S. baby food dollar sales rose 2.3% in 2024 while volume sales fell 4.7%, indicating that price and mix increases supported value growth despite lower unit demand. Euromonitor reported that U.S. baby food sales growth in 2025 remained largely price driven as retail volume declined.[86][87]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being supported by premium, organic, clean-label, plant-based, fortified, and online products, while falling birth rates and economic uncertainty are pressuring demand in mature markets. In Asia Pacific, milk formula represented 82% of baby food retail sales in 2024 but is projected to fall to 79% by 2029, with China’s market expected to lose $4.8 billion over the period.[83][84]
Consumer behavior & competition
U.S. baby-category dollar gains have been driven by prices while unit sales have been flat or declining, and e-commerce is becoming a more important route to market. Innovation remains a major competitive lever: Kendamil Infant Formula generated $303 million in launch-year sales in Circana’s 2025 New Product Pacesetters analysis.[88]
M&A
NewPrinces completed its acquisition of Heinz’s Italian infant and specialty food business, including Plasmon, Nipiol, BiAglut, Aproten, and Dieterba, on December 31, 2025 for €124.4 million. In 2026, Bel acquired the Brainiac and Little Brainiac brands, expanding its children’s and baby/toddler food portfolio.[89][90]
Regulation
The U.S. FDA’s Operation Stork Speed, announced on March 18, 2025, is expanding infant-formula options and includes a comprehensive review of formula nutrients, contaminant testing, and measures to improve supply resilience. On October 29, 2026, the FDA issued the first of three planned proposed rules to update infant-formula nutrient requirements.[58]
Latest news
In 2026, Bel acquired the Brainiac brands to strengthen its fruit, vegetable, and baby/toddler snack platform, while the FDA advanced Operation Stork Speed with proposed changes to infant-formula nutrient requirements. Hain Celestial also agreed to sell its international business, including Ella’s Kitchen, to entities affiliated with AURELIUS, subject to closing conditions.[90][58][91]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Baby Food Industry

The leading companies in the baby food industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Danone leads Gitnux's 2026 baby food ranking with an Overall score of 9.2, with revenue growth -0.3% and operating margin 13.4% in 2025. Nestlé is the runner-up at 9.1, backed by revenue growth -2% and operating margin 14.2% in 2025.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in infant formula manufacturing

    Danone

    FR

    Ranked #1 · 9.2 · Infant formula manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It covers early-life nutrition and infant formula, with 2025 health-and-nutrition reporting coverage at 97.8% of consolidated sales.

    See in ranking ↓Visit danone.com ↗

  2. #2 overall

    Nestlé

    CH

    Ranked #2 · 9.1 · Infant formula manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It sells infant formula and complementary baby foods, with 2024 underlying trading operating profit margin 16.0% and R&D at 1.8% of revenue.

    See in ranking ↓Visit nestle.com ↗

  3. #3 overall

    Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group

    CN

    Ranked #3 · 8.9 · Infant formula manufacturing

    Why we picked it: It produces Chinese dairy and infant formula; it reported infant formula No. 1 market share in China in 2025.

    See in ranking ↓Visit yili.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. No other segment places in the top 5, so picks 2 and 3 follow rank.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the baby food industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Danone

Infant formula manufacturing · FR

9.2
2

Nestlé

Infant formula manufacturing · CH

9.1
3

Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group

Infant formula manufacturing · CN

8.9
4

DMK Group

Infant formula manufacturing · DE

8.8
5

Meiji Holdings

Infant formula manufacturing · JP

8.6
6

HiPP

Organic baby food and infant formula · DE

8.6
7

Hero Group

Baby and toddler food, milk and snacks · CH

8.6
8

China Feihe

China-focused infant formula producer · CN

8.3
9

Asahi Group Holdings

Japanese baby food and infant formula · JP

8.2
10

Hain Celestial Group

Organic baby and children's food · US

7.4

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the baby food industry. In Baby Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/baby-food-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Baby food brand market share (Canada)

Enfamil leads with 20.4%.

Enfamil20.4%
Good Start15%
Heinz14.6%
Similac12%
Baby Gourmet4.4%
Gerber3.7%
source-verifiedagriculture.canada.ca

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Technology & Innovation shows how baby-food throughput depends on automation, data, and traceability systems. Examples include 2 KR DELTA robots in Malaysia and 100% blockchain traceability for Timios porridge packs.

Automation in the baby food industry

  • 2 KR DELTA robots pick and place measuring spoons into baby-food bags on a production line in Malaysia in 2022.[1]
  • 1 automation system was developed for Raptakos, Brett and Company’s powdered-milk baby-food manufacturing process in India, including tanks, piping and clean-in-place systems.[2]
  • 650 employees worked at Nestlé’s Biessenhofen factory, a German competence centre for hypoallergenic baby food using integrated process automation.[3]
  • 1 fully automated storage and material-handling system, including warehouse shuttles, conveyors and automated guided vehicles, was commissioned for Nestlé’s baby-food plant in Bavaria for operation from January 2017.[4]

Digital Transformation in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 34% of food, beverage, and ingredient professionals said manufacturing process or assembly had been positively affected by digital transformation technologies in 2024.[5]
  • 28% of food, beverage, and ingredient professionals reported positive effects from digital transformation technologies on food-safety preventive controls in 2024.[5]
  • 82% of food and beverage leaders said technology adoption was a strategic priority, while 6% reported fully integrated digital systems, in a 2025 survey.[6]
  • 40% of 423 food and beverage professionals worldwide identified disconnected systems and data as their organization’s biggest operational barrier in 2026.[6]

Technology Adoption in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 23% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in mobile-app technologies in 2025.[5]
  • 22% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in machine-learning software in 2025.[5]
  • 31% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in robotics or robotic process automation in 2025.[5]
  • 50% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in artificial intelligence as part of their 2025 digital-transformation strategies.[5]

Cloud Computing in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 30% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in cloud computing or enterprise resource-planning software and systems in 2025.[5]
  • 18% of food manufacturers were already using cloud-based manufacturing-execution systems, while 51% planned implementation, according to a 2025 industry survey.[7]
  • 52% of food processors and manufacturers were considering cloud technology, while 45% reported no cloud use, in a 2023 industry survey.[8]
  • 39.5% of EU enterprises in accommodation and food-service activities used paid cloud-computing services in 2025.[9]

Big Data in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 35% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in big data and real-time analytics in 2025.[5]
  • 24% of food-manufacturing respondents were very familiar with advanced analytics, while 34% were moderately familiar, in CRB’s 2025 survey.[10]
  • 13% of food manufacturers were already using advanced-analytics or big-data platforms, while 44% planned implementation, in a 2025 industry survey.[7]
  • 47% of food, beverage, and ingredient professionals identified gathering, analyzing, and leveraging data for data-driven decisions as a digital-transformation investment driver in 2024.[5]

Blockchain in the baby food industry

  • 100% of Timios organic porridge packs were traced from ingredients through processing and packaging using a blockchain-powered system.[11]
  • 4 baby-food and infant-formula producers were identified in a 2020 California report as using or exploring blockchain traceability: Danone, Nestlé, Plasmon and Vinamilk.[12]
  • 3 Gerber baby-food purees—sweet potato, apple and pumpkin—were included in Nestlé’s 2018 blockchain traceability test.[13]
  • 2 barcodes were used in Danone’s baby-food anti-counterfeit solution, with one showing manufacturing and distribution information and a second verifying authenticity after purchase.[12]

IoT in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 31% of food-manufacturing respondents were very familiar with the Internet of Things, while 35% were moderately familiar, in CRB’s 2025 survey.[10]
  • 16% of food, beverage, and ingredient companies anticipated investing in Internet-of-Things devices or sensors in 2025.[5]
  • 33% of UK manufacturing companies had adopted IoT technologies in a 2024 national survey, with manufacturing among the sectors reporting comparatively high adoption.[14]
  • 26% of food manufacturers were already using IoT sensors or equipment monitoring, while 37% planned implementation, in a 2025 industry survey.[7]

Innovation in the baby food industry

  • 21% was the compound annual growth rate of global fruit, dessert and yogurt launches for babies from 2015 to 2019.[15]
  • 43% of global baby-and-toddler new-product development came from Europe between October 2022 and September 2023.[16]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data & Analytics highlights governance and quality gaps that slow operational decisions in baby food. In 2024, 43% of consumer-products companies struggled to establish the right level of data governance.

Data Quality in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 22% of consumer-products companies reported that businesses lacked trust in data quality and validity in 2024.[17]
  • 6.6 out of 10: Food, beverage and agriculture respondents rated data consistency as important in 2018.[18]
  • 6.4 out of 10: Food, beverage and agriculture respondents rated data timeliness as important in 2018.[18]
  • 77% of retail and consumer-products companies identified improving data quality as a priority in 2023.[19]
  • 6.4 out of 10: Food, beverage and agriculture respondents rated data accuracy as important in 2018.[18]
  • 7.0 out of 10: Food, beverage and agriculture respondents rated data completeness as important in 2018.[18]

Data Governance in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 61% of supply-management organizations had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[20]
  • 81% of supply-management organizations found their data-governance program useful in 2024.[20]
  • 43% of consumer-products companies reported struggling to establish the right level of data governance in 2024.[17]
  • 22% of consumer-products companies planned to increase investment in data infrastructure and governance over the following 12 months in 2024.[17]
  • 90% of supply-management organizations agreed or strongly agreed that data governance was necessary in 2024.[20]
  • 47% of supply-management data-governance functions were housed in a center of excellence in 2024.[20]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Strategy & Growth links demand signals to channel and product mix. Fortune Business Insights forecasts market growth from $123.16 billion in 2026 to $214.28 billion in 2034 (7.17% CAGR).

Growth in the baby food industry

  • Serenity Kids achieved 71% year-over-year retail revenue growth in 2023 compared with 2022.[21]
  • Canadian baby-food retail sales are forecast to reach Can$967.7 million in 2029, implying a 5.0% CAGR from 2024.[22]
  • Prepared baby food in Canada grew at a 7.2% CAGR from 2020 to 2024, reaching Can$155.7 million.[22]
  • Global baby food revenue was estimated at US$68 billion in 2024, with a projected US$89 billion in 2029.[23]
  • Prepared baby food in Canada is forecast to grow at a 10.5% CAGR from 2024 to 2029.[22]
  • Other baby food in Canada is forecast to grow at an 8.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2029.[22]

Differentiation in the baby food industry

  • Organic baby food accounted for US$4.49 billion globally in 2024, according to a market-industry estimate.[24]
  • Infant milk formula represented 61.7% of global organic baby-food revenue in 2024.[24]
  • The top five organic baby and toddler complementary-food brands in China generated approximately RMB1.71 billion in GMV in 2024.[25]
  • The top five organic baby and toddler complementary-food brands held approximately 79.1% of China’s market in 2024.[25]
  • Nestlé held 17.6% of Hong Kong’s organic baby-food market in 2023, with US$5.0 million in retail sales.[22]
  • Hipp held 37.3% of Hong Kong’s organic baby-food market in 2023, with US$10.6 million in retail sales.[22]

Mergers and acquisitions in the baby food industry

  • FNB Private Equity completed the acquisition of Nestlé’s French baby-food business, excluding infant formula, in 2024.[26]
  • NewPrinces acquired 100% of Plasmon from Kraft Heinz for €124.3 million in cash in 2026.[27]
  • Grays Peak Capital acquired Nosh Foods, a baby and toddler-food brand, in 2020 for an undisclosed amount.[28]
  • Cerebelly acquired Fresh Bellies in 2026 to expand into plant-based, freeze-dried children’s snacks.[29]
  • Plasmon generated €17 million of EBITDA in fiscal 2024 before its acquisition by NewPrinces.[27]
  • A majority stake in Progress, the Russian producer of FrutoNyanya baby food, was acquired after regulatory clearance in 2024.[30]

Strategic partnerships in the baby food industry

  • Cerebelly entered Canada and seven southeastern U.S. states through its international and Publix expansion in 2023.[31]
  • Sprout Organics’ CoComelon collaboration was distributed through Walmart stores nationwide in the United States in 2022.[32]
  • Sprout Organics launched a co-branded baby-food line with CoComelon across North America in 2022.[32]
  • Gerber partnered with Clean Label Project in 2023 as the largest U.S. baby-food company to join the organization.[33]
  • Cerebelly’s Publix partnership expanded its presence to more than 11,500 North American retail doors in 2023.[31]
  • Serenity Kids’ retail revenue grew 71% year over year in 2023 before the Stride partnership.[21]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

People & Workforce focuses on retention, training volume, and execution constraints. Danone trained 6,349 employees on its policy for marketing breast-milk substitutes in 2023.

Employee retention in the baby food industry

  • 91.0% of Nestlé primary and secondary caregivers who used paid parental leave remained with the company after one year in the preceding reported year.[34]
  • 91.8% of Nestlé primary and secondary caregivers who used paid parental leave remained with the company after one year in the latest reported year.[34]
  • 92.7% of Nestlé primary and secondary caregivers who used paid parental leave remained with the company after one year in an earlier reported year.[34]

Remote Work in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • In U.S. accommodation and food services, 1.7% of employees were able to work fully remotely in 2024.[35]
  • Across U.S. food and beverage businesses, 26% let employees choose to work in-person or remotely in 2025, while 73% require in-person work.[36]
  • U.S. accommodation and food-services firms averaged 0.1 work-from-home days per week from November 2024 through January 2025.[37]
  • Among food-sector career starters globally, 36% were fully site-based during their first two years of work, according to a 2024 survey.[38]

Hybrid Work in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. food and beverage businesses, 26% offered employees the option to work in-person or remotely in 2025.[36]
  • In U.S. restaurant and bar businesses, 12% offered employees a choice between in-person and remote work in 2025.[36]
  • Among food-sector career starters globally, 27% worked in a hybrid arrangement during their first two years, according to a 2024 survey.[38]
  • In 2025, 80% of hospitality and food-services employers said they were still struggling to get the balance right with hybrid working.[39]

Upskilling in the baby food industry

  • 6,349 Danone employees were trained on the company’s policy for marketing breast-milk substitutes in 2023.[40]
  • 2,628 Danone health-care nutrition advisers in infant and maternal nutrition completed the first module of a breastfeeding e-course in 2023.[40]
  • 13.8 average hours of technical and vocational training were completed per Nestlé employee in another reported year.[34]
  • 11.7 average hours of technical and vocational training were completed per Nestlé employee in one reported year.[34]

Employee Engagement in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • Food-service employees recorded 72.6% engagement in 2026, up 9.1 percentage points from the prior measurement.[41]
  • Globally, 21% of employees were engaged in 2025, providing an economy-wide benchmark relevant where food-and-beverage-specific engagement data are limited.[42]
  • Among U.S. and Canadian frontline employees surveyed in 2024, 52% worked in foodservice, in a sample of 46,250 employees used to assess workplace engagement.[43]
  • Food-and-beverage organizations scored 7.91 out of 10 for employee engagement in the latest 2026 benchmark dataset.[44]

Change Management in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among foodservice organizations surveyed in 2024, 44% cited a lack of internal expertise to execute analyses as a menu-optimization barrier.[45]
  • In a 2024 survey of foodservice organizations, 49% ranked resistance to change as a top barrier to evolving menu strategy.[45]
  • In the 2024–2025 HR Systems Survey, 39% of organizations applied change management sporadically and 9% reported using no change management.[46]
  • Among foodservice organizations surveyed in 2024, 46% identified siloed data and inaccessible specialists as barriers to systematic menu optimization.[45]
  • In the 2024–2025 HR Systems Survey, 28% of organizations used adaptive or agile change management, while 24% used a project-based approach.[46]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer & Sales ties purchase criteria to product attributes and store access. In 2024, 74% of surveyed UK parents rated convenience as important when choosing commercial baby foods.

Customer experience in the baby food industry

  • 63.6% of surveyed UK parents valued baby food being sold in their local shop, in a 2023 study.[47]
  • 85.5% of surveyed UK parents valued baby foods containing fruit and vegetables, in a 2023 complementary-feeding study.[47]
  • 53.8% of surveyed UK parents valued organic ingredients when choosing baby-food products, in 2023.[47]
  • 93.6% of surveyed UK parents considered nutritious, natural or real ingredients when choosing baby-food products, in 2023.[47]
  • 94.2% of surveyed UK parents said their baby liked the selected baby-food products, in a 2023 complementary-feeding study.[47]

Customer retention in the baby food industry

  • At least one-third of U.S. parents who changed infant-formula brands during the 2022 shortage switched three to five times.[48]
  • 87% of U.S. parents who switched infant-formula types or brands during the 2022 shortage did so because their usual formula was unavailable.[48]
  • 84% of surveyed UK parents rated baby-food affordability as important when selecting shop-bought products, in 2024.[49]
  • 74% of surveyed UK parents rated convenience as important when choosing commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 48% of surveyed UK parents said friends or family using similar baby foods was not important, in 2023.[49]

Customer acquisition in the baby food industry

  • 56% of surveyed UK parents considered recommendations from friends or family important when choosing shop-bought baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 60% of surveyed UK parents said their child points to familiar foods when shopping, in a 2024 baby-food study.[49]
  • 35% of White U.S. mothers cited lowest price as important when purchasing baby food, compared with 23% of Hispanic mothers in 2022.[50]
  • 34% of Hispanic U.S. mothers and 38% of Asian mothers cited a doctor or nurse recommendation when purchasing baby food in 2022.[50]
  • 47% of Hispanic U.S. mothers and 42% of Black mothers considered their baby’s preferred flavor or type when purchasing baby food in 2022.[50]

Customer loyalty in the baby food industry

  • 78% of U.S. parents rated formula trustworthiness important before the 2022 shortage of specialized formulas.[48]
  • 73% of surveyed UK parents rated convenient pack design or portion size important when choosing commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 65% of surveyed UK parents rated environmental friendliness or sustainability important when choosing commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 28.9% of surveyed UK parents said recommendations from people they knew influenced their baby-food brand choice, in 2023.[47]
  • 43% of surveyed UK parents rated attractive or eye-catching pack design and logos important when choosing commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]

Lead generation in the baby food industry

  • $4 was Little Bellies’ reported U.S. paid-search cost per acquisition after optimization, down from $13.[51]
  • 56% was Little Bellies’ year-over-year U.S. market-share growth after its search-led marketing campaign, according to NP Digital.[51]
  • 297% was the increase in Little Bellies’ non-branded organic visibility after its digital campaign, according to the agency case study.[51]
  • 69% was the reported reduction in Little Bellies’ U.S. paid-search acquisition cost after its campaign.[51]
  • 363% was the increase in Little Bellies’ non-branded search impressions after its search-led campaign, according to the agency case study.[51]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Marketing & Brand shows measurable media performance and pack/claim influence. In September 2026, the median U.S. CPM was $2.09 and the median Instagram-feed click-through rate was 0.40%.

Marketing in the baby food industry

  • 45.6% of Mexican parents reported using social media to share advertising content for formula and baby foods, in a 2021 study.[48]
  • 21% of reviewed studies identified Danone in social-media marketing of breast-milk substitutes, according to a 2026 systematic review.[52]
  • 91.9% of Mexican parents reported infant formula as one of the formula categories most advertised on digital media, in a 2021 study.[48]
  • $944.5 million was the combined 2018–2019 annual advertising expenditure reported for Nestlé USA and the two largest global baby-food and drinks companies studied.[53]
  • 70.8% of Mexican parents reported yoghurt as one of the baby-food products most advertised digitally, in a 2021 study.[48]

Digital marketing in the baby food industry

  • $2.09 was the median September 2026 CPM for baby-food brand advertising, measured in U.S. dollars.[54]
  • 0.40% was the median Instagram-feed click-through rate for baby-food brand advertising in September 2026.[54]
  • 4.84 times was the average increase in repeat website visits associated with brands using Emplifi’s UGC solution in Q3 2026, across its all-category benchmark.[54]
  • 42.2% of baby-food brands’ Facebook posts were Reels in September 2026, according to Emplifi’s worldwide benchmark.[54]
  • 1.67% was the median Facebook-feed click-through rate for baby-food brand advertising in September 2026.[54]

Branding in the baby food industry

  • 91% of surveyed UK parents considered safety and quality assurance important when choosing commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 84% of surveyed UK parents considered baby-food brand trust important when selecting shop-bought products, in 2024.[49]
  • 63% of White U.S. mothers and 59% of Black U.S. mothers cited health as important when purchasing baby food in 2022.[50]
  • 85% of surveyed UK parents considered nutritional and health benefits described on the pack important when choosing baby foods, in 2024.[49]
  • 81% of surveyed UK parents considered no added sugar or additives important when selecting commercial baby foods, in 2024.[49]

Social media in the baby food industry

  • 17 was the median number of interactions generated by an Instagram Reel from a baby-food brand in Q3 2026.[54]
  • 26,248 was the median number of Instagram followers for worldwide baby-food brands in Q3 2026.[54]
  • 740 was the median total number of Instagram interactions per baby-food profile during Q3 2026.[54]
  • 332 was the median number of interactions generated by a baby-food brand’s Facebook Live Video in Q3 2026.[54]
  • 82 was the median total number of Facebook interactions per baby-food page during Q3 2026.[54]

Influencer Marketing in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • 49% of U.S. millennial food and beverage shoppers said they purchased from an influencer-founded or influencer-led brand in the previous year, according to a 2025 survey.[55]
  • 47.6% of TikTok videos featuring food products from top influencers included a branded product, based on an analysis of 1,360 videos published in 2025.[56]
  • 33% of U.S. food and beverage shoppers said they purchased a product from an influencer-founded or influencer-led brand such as Prime or Feastables in the previous year, in 2025.[55]
  • 82% of U.S. Gen Z food and beverage shoppers said they purchased a prepackaged product based on an online influencer’s recommendation in the previous year, according to a June 2025 survey.[55]
  • 63% of U.S. food and beverage shoppers said they purchased a prepackaged product based on an online influencer’s recommendation in the previous year, according to a June 2025 survey.[55]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operations & Execution emphasizes production scale, inspections, and recall-driven checks. FDA and partners conducted more than 4,000 retail-location checks after an infant-formula recall.

Process optimization in the baby food industry

  • 14 manufacturing sites are planned for Abbott’s independent Nutrition company, which includes infant-nutrition production.[57]
  • 41% less infant formula was produced at Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan, facility in 2024 than in 2021.[57]
  • 40 routine inspections of domestic and foreign infant-formula facilities were conducted in fiscal year 2024 in the United States.[58]
  • 62% year-over-year volume growth drove The Honest Company’s 2024 increase in baby-category sales.[59]
  • 118 million additional baby-milk-powder tins per year became possible after a €4 million packaging-line investment in the Netherlands.[60]

Operational efficiency in the baby food industry

  • $8.5 billion in annual sales is the approximate scale projected for Abbott’s planned independent Nutrition company.[57]
  • 97.8% of Danone’s consolidated sales was covered by health-and-nutrition reporting in 2024.[40]
  • 66% year-over-year net-sales growth was reported for The Honest Company’s baby category in 2024.[59]
  • 151 production sites were included in Danone’s FSSC 22000 certification scope in 2024.[40]
  • 99.4% of Danone’s consolidated sales volume was covered by health-and-nutrition reporting in 2024.[40]

Quality management in the baby food industry

  • 175 retail locations across 36 U.S. states still had recalled infant formula available during FDA checks after a recent recall.[58]
  • More than 4,000 retail-location checks were conducted by FDA and state and local partners after an infant-formula recall.[58]
  • 3 infant-formula manufacturers received FDA warning letters in 2023 concerning inadequate process controls against microbial adulteration.[58]
  • 13 infant-botulism cases in 10 U.S. states were linked by health officials to recalled baby formula in 2025.[61]
  • 41% less infant formula was produced at Abbott’s Sturgis plant in 2024 than in 2021 following quality and compliance problems.[57]

Supply chain in the baby food industry

  • About 2 million additional WIC participants could be served annually through infant-formula rebates in fiscal year 2023.[62]
  • $1.58 billion in infant-formula rebates generated WIC food funds in fiscal year 2023.[62]
  • 3 major manufacturers remained in the U.S. infant-formula market in 2024, according to FDA’s national strategy.[58]
  • 4 companies controlled 99% of the U.S. infant-formula market in 2022, according to FDA’s national strategy.[58]
  • More than half of U.S. infant formula was consumed by infants receiving WIC in the USDA’s 2024 analysis.[63]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the food and beverage sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among food and beverage CPG companies globally, 36% used co-manufacturers for finished-product manufacturing in 2023.[32]
  • Among food and beverage CPG companies globally, 47% worked with up to 10 co-manufacturers in 2023.[32]
  • Across food and beverage CPG companies globally, 75% used at least some co-manufacturing resources in 2023.[32]
  • Across food and beverage CPG companies globally, 52% planned to expand their international footprint in 2023, including North America, EMEA and APAC expansion.[64]
  • Across food and beverage CPG companies globally, 55% outsourced more manufacturing in 2023 than three years earlier, according to a survey of 287 industry leaders.[32]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Finance & Pricing captures how margins and spending interact with baby-food unit volumes. U.S. annual baby-food spending per consumer unit rose 15.0% in 2025 to a $46 average.

Pricing strategy in the baby food industry

  • $46 was average annual U.S. baby-food spending per consumer unit in 2025.[65]
  • 12.0% was Similac’s share of the Canadian baby-food market in 2024.[22]
  • 4 ounces was the approximate average package volume of baby-food products in the U.S. purchase-data study.[66]
  • 15.0% was the year-over-year increase in average U.S. annual baby-food spending per consumer unit in 2025.[65]
  • 15.0% was Good Start’s share of the Canadian baby-food market in 2024.[22]

Cost reduction in the baby food industry

  • 41% was the reduction in Abbott Sturgis infant-formula production between 2021 and 2024.[57]
  • 1.3% was Nestlé’s 2024 reduction in reported underlying trading operating profit.[34]
  • 1.1 billion Swiss francs in restructuring and other trading costs were recorded by Nestlé in 2024.[34]
  • 53.3% of Nestlé sales represented cost of goods sold in 2024.[34]
  • 80 basis points was Nestlé’s 2024 improvement in gross-profit margin, partly reflecting cost-of-goods changes and portfolio actions.[34]

Profitability in the baby food industry

  • 15.4% was Nestlé’s 2024 underlying trading operating profit margin for confectionery, reported in the same product-category profitability table.[34]
  • 21.6% was Nestlé’s 2024 underlying trading operating profit margin for PetCare, reported alongside its nutrition portfolio.[34]
  • 16.0% was Nestlé’s group trading operating profit margin in 2024.[34]
  • 17.2% was Nestlé’s group underlying trading operating profit margin in 2024.[34]
  • 19.9% was Nestlé’s 2024 underlying trading operating profit margin for Nutrition and Health Science.[34]

Financial planning in the baby food industry

  • 118 million tins per year was the additional capacity targeted by that Dutch baby-packaging investment.[60]
  • $8.5 billion in annual sales is the approximate scale planned for Abbott’s independent Nutrition company after separation.[57]
  • 50% was the planned capacity increase for the Georgia baby-products expansion.[61]
  • $12 million in potential state income-tax credits was associated with the Georgia expansion if employment conditions were met.[61]
  • $385 million was the reported Abbott settlement related to the Sturgis infant-formula plant investigation.[61]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Product & Service highlights category rotation toward snacks and e-commerce. Canadian e-commerce contributed 18.2% of baby food market value in 2024.

Product development in the baby food industry

  • 13 organic baby snack products were launched in Canada in 2024, compared with 27 in 2022.[22]
  • 43% of global baby and toddler innovation came from Europe between October 2022 and September 2023.[16]
  • 26.6% of North American baby food launches were baby snacks in 2023, up from 17.1% previously.[67]
  • 14 baby snack products were launched in Canada in 2024, compared with 30 in 2022.[22]

Product lifecycle in the baby food industry

  • 21 baby drink products were recorded in the UK commercial market from September 2017 to September 2018.[68]
  • 22.1% of UK commercial baby food and drink products were baby finger foods from September 2017 to September 2018.[68]
  • 1.9% of UK commercial baby food and drink products were baby drinks from September 2017 to September 2018.[68]
  • 76.1% of UK commercial baby food and drink products were baby meals from September 2017 to September 2018.[68]
  • 247 baby finger-food products were recorded in the UK commercial market from September 2017 to September 2018.[68]

Value proposition in the baby food industry

  • 18.2% of Canadian baby food market value came through e-commerce in 2024.[22]
  • 62.1% of Canadian baby food market value came through grocery stores in 2024.[22]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability & Ethics tracks packaging input choices and health indicator coverage in baby nutrition operations. Danone reported 61% of Dairy, Plant-Based and Specialized Nutrition volumes sold were fortified in 2024.

Sustainability in the baby food industry

  • 64% of Abbott’s 2025 beneficial-use material was Nutrition byproduct, totaling 67,310 metric tons globally.[57]
  • 9% of Abbott Nutrition primary packaging by weight was made from post-consumer recycled materials in 2024 globally.[57]
  • 61% of Danone’s Dairy, Plant-Based and Specialized Nutrition volumes sold were fortified in 2024 globally, with Specialized Nutrition including baby formula and complementary feeding.[40]
  • 112,000 metric tons of packaging material were used for approximately 3.2 billion Nutrition primary packages placed on the market in 2024 globally by Abbott.[57]
  • 22% of Abbott Nutrition primary packaging used recycled content or renewable materials in 2024 globally.[57]

ESG in the baby food industry

  • 22% of Nestlé sales in 2025 were classified as Specialized Nutrition, including infant nutrition products.[34]
  • 41% of Abbott’s Sturgis infant-formula production volume in 2024 was below its 2021 level after the 2022 recall and facility shutdown.[57]
  • 97.8% of Danone consolidated sales and 99.4% of volume sold were covered by reported health and nutrition indicators in 2024 globally.[40]
  • Danone’s Baby Formula Marketing Standards training completion increased approximately 7% from 2024 to 2025 globally.[40]
  • 21% of Nestlé sales in 2024 were classified as Specialized Nutrition, which includes infant nutrition, according to its portfolio transparency reporting.[34]

Ethics in the baby food industry

  • 2,874 messages were received through Nestlé’s Speak Up system in 2023, including reports relevant to business conduct in infant nutrition operations.[34]
  • 3,753 messages were received through Nestlé’s Speak Up system in 2025, covering business-conduct concerns across the group including infant nutrition operations.[34]
  • Danone’s 2025 baby-formula marketing report states that its standards support breastfeeding while providing formula for parents who cannot or choose not to breastfeed.[40]
  • Danone’s 2025 report identifies responsible baby-formula marketing as covering employees and partners across its Specialized Nutrition business globally.[40]
  • Danone reported that its 2023 baby-formula compliance report was presented to the company’s Board of Directors in October 2023.[40]

CSR in the baby food industry

  • 3 years was the duration of Abbott’s partnership with Easterseals to expand health and social services for children in Chicago Head Start programs.[57]
  • 60% of participants in Abbott’s Singapore High School STEM internship were female in the latest reported program cohort.[57]
  • 79% of children in Abbott’s Easterseals Head Start partnership were ready for kindergarten at the end of the 2024–2025 school year in Chicago.[57]
  • 67 scholarship recipients in Abbott’s University of the Pacific partnership had graduated by 2025 in social work, nursing or clinical nutrition.[57]
  • 25 students participated in Abbott’s Singapore High School STEM internship in the latest reported year, up from 7 at its 2021 inception.[57]

Circular economy in the baby food industry

  • 4% of Abbott’s 2024 beneficial-use material was unused product waste, according to its global sustainability report.[57]
  • 3.2 billion Abbott Nutrition primary packages were placed on the market in 2024 globally.[57]
  • 53% of Abbott’s 2024 beneficial-use material was Nutrition byproduct, according to its global sustainability report.[57]
  • 12% of Abbott’s 2024 beneficial-use material was production waste, according to its global sustainability report.[57]
  • 1% of Abbott’s 2024 beneficial-use material was corrugate and cardboard, according to its global sustainability report.[57]

Carbon footprint in the baby food industry

  • 71.31 million tonnes CO2e were Nestlé’s total location-based greenhouse-gas emissions in 2025 globally, including infant-nutrition operations.[34]
  • 2.06 million tonnes CO2e were associated with Nestlé vegetable-fat and oil ingredient sourcing in 2025 globally, down 36.7% from the 2018 baseline.[34]
  • 8.90 million tonnes CO2e were associated with Nestlé packaging in 2025 globally, down 10.8% from the 2018 baseline.[34]
  • 4.74 million tonnes CO2e were associated with Nestlé animal-fat, meat and byproduct ingredient sourcing in 2025 globally, 1.0% above the 2018 baseline.[34]
  • 4.79 million tonnes CO2e were associated with Nestlé distribution in 2025 globally, down 16.2% from the 2018 baseline.[34]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Globalization & Expansion tracks how firms move distribution and revenue pools across markets. Nestlé reported 5.9% of 2024 sales came from Greater China.

Globalization in the baby food industry

  • Cerebelly expanded its North American retail presence to more than 11,500 doors after entering Canada and Publix in 2023.[31]
  • 5.9% of Nestlé’s 2024 sales came from Greater China, an important international infant-nutrition market.[34]
  • 67% of Nestlé’s global baby-food sales were estimated to come from breast-milk substitutes in 2024.[78]
  • 21.0% of Nestlé’s 2024 sales came from Asia, Oceania and Africa, including infant-nutrition markets.[34]
  • Plasmon generated €170 million in revenue in fiscal 2024 before its acquisition by NewPrinces.[27]

Cultural adaptation in the baby food industry

  • The tested Cerelac products containing added sugar averaged 4 grams per serving across African, Latin American and Asian markets.[79]
  • 75 of 78 Nestlé Cerelac products tested in Africa, Latin America and Asia contained added sugar in 2024 reporting.[80]
  • 57.3% of Māori infants in New Zealand consumed iron-fortified baby rice at around six months, compared with 56.1% of Pacific infants.[66]
  • 54.6% of Māori infants in New Zealand consumed red meat at around six months of age, compared with 63.4% of Pacific infants.[66]

Stakeholder management in the baby food industry

  • Nestlé’s 2024 baby-food marketing assessment received an average country-study score of 35.7%.[78]
  • Gerber became the largest U.S. baby-food company to partner with Clean Label Project in 2023.[33]
  • Gerber received more First 1,000 Day Promise certifications than any other U.S. infant-feeding brand in 2023.[33]
  • Nestlé’s 2024 infant-nutrition marketing assessment covered five countries: China, Germany, Indonesia, the United States and Vietnam.[78]

Distribution channels in the baby food industry

  • Non-grocery retailers captured 18.8% of Canadian baby-food retail sales in 2024, worth Can$142.3 million.[22]
  • Retail e-commerce represented 18.2% of Canadian baby-food retail sales in 2024, worth Can$138.1 million.[22]
  • Cerebelly’s launch at Publix added access to 1,342 stores across the southeastern United States in 2023.[31]
  • Hypermarkets accounted for 13.2% of Canadian baby-food retail sales in 2024.[22]
  • 62.1% of Canadian baby-food retail sales came through grocery retailers in 2024.[22]

Key questions about the Baby Food Industry

What is the global baby food market size and how much of it is infant formula?
Global baby food market value was $115.79 billion in 2025, with infant formula at a 63.9% share. Infant formula generated $61.53 billion in 2025 revenue.
What growth rate do forecasts imply for 2026–2034?
Fortune Business Insights projects growth from $123.16 billion in 2026 to $214.28 billion in 2034, a 7.17% CAGR. The Business Research Company forecast implies $82.43 billion in 2025 rising to $107.65 billion in 2030 at a 5.4% CAGR.
Which companies lead the baby food industry?
Danone leads Gitnux's 2026 baby food ranking with an Overall score of 9.2, with revenue growth -0.3% and operating margin 13.4% in 2025. Nestlé is the runner-up at 9.1, backed by revenue growth -2% and operating margin 14.2% in 2025.
Where does digital technology adoption show up across baby food manufacturing and traceability?
Manufacturing process or assembly saw positive effects for 34% of professionals in 2024, and 28% reported similar positive effects on food-safety preventive controls. Timios used a blockchain-powered system to trace 100% of organic porridge packs from ingredients through processing and packaging.
How concentrated is the baby-food market in major regions like the U.S. and the EU?
In the EU, the four largest FMCG suppliers held 68% of the dried baby food market and 69% of the milk formula market in 2024. In the U.S., four companies controlled 99% of the infant-formula market in 2022.
What is driving value growth when unit demand softens in the U.S.?
U.S. baby food dollar sales rose 2.3% in 2024 while volume sales fell 4.7%, indicating price and mix supported value growth despite lower unit demand. Euromonitor reported 2025 growth remained largely price driven as retail volume declined.
Reference

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APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Baby Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/baby-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Baby Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/baby-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Baby Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/baby-food-industry-statistics.

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