From crispy flakes that kickstart mornings in over a third of American households to hearty porridges fueling the bustling cities of India, the booming global breakfast cereal industry—a market worth over $45 billion and growing steadily—is quietly undergoing a revolution driven by our collective desire for convenience, health, and flavor.
Key Takeaways
- The global breakfast cereals market size was valued at USD 45.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030, driven by increasing demand for convenient breakfast options.
- In the US, the ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal market reached $8.5 billion in retail sales in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021.
- The European breakfast cereal market was valued at €12.3 billion in 2023, with a projected CAGR of 3.8% through 2028.
- US per capita RTE cereal consumption was 10.1 pounds in 2022.
- Globally, 45% of consumers eat cereal 3+ times weekly for breakfast in 2023 survey.
- UK cereal consumption volume declined 1.2% to 420,000 tonnes in 2023.
- World wheat used for cereals 150 million tonnes in 2022/23.
- US corn production for cereal processing 45 million tonnes in 2023.
- Global oat production reached 26 million tonnes in 2022/23 harvest.
- Kellogg's holds 32.4% US RTE cereal market share in 2023.
- General Mills commands 25.1% of US cereal sales volume 2022.
- Post Holdings captured 12.7% US RTE market in 2023 Q1.
- 71% of US consumers aged 18-34 seek high-protein cereals in 2023 surveys.
- Global shift to plant-based milks with cereals up 25% since 2020.
- 55% of parents choose low-sugar cereals for kids, 2023 US poll.
The global cereal industry is growing steadily due to rising demand for convenient breakfast options.
Companies and Brands Market Share
- Kellogg's holds 32.4% US RTE cereal market share in 2023.
- General Mills commands 25.1% of US cereal sales volume 2022.
- Post Holdings captured 12.7% US RTE market in 2023 Q1.
- Nestle global cereals revenue $5.8 billion in 2022, 8% of food division.
- PepsiCo Quaker Oats 15% North America hot cereal share 2023.
- Mondelez international cereals brand market share 4.2% global 2022.
- B&G Foods cereal brands 3.5% US market share 2023.
- Weetabix (Post) holds 22% UK cereal market volume 2023.
- Kellogg's Corn Flakes 18% of US flaked cereals segment 2022.
- General Mills Cheerios 14.5% total US RTE sales 2023.
- Nature's Path organic cereals 7% Canada market 2022.
- PepsiCo holds 28% global oats cereals share 2023.
- Attune Foods (now Century Snacks) 2.8% healthy cereals US 2022.
- Malt-O-Meal (Post) private label equivalent 10% US value share 2023.
- Nestle Cereals Australia 35% market share 2022.
- Kellogg's Special K 9.2% US women's cereals segment 2023.
- General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios 6.8% kids cereals US 2022.
- TreeHouse Foods private label cereals 19% US share 2023.
- McKee Foods Little Debbie cereals 1.5% snack-cereal hybrid 2022.
- Bob's Red Mill 11% US whole grain cereals 2023.
- Kellogg's Rice Krispies 12% puffed cereals US 2022.
- General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch 5.4% flavored cereals 2023.
- Weet-Bix (Sanitarium) 45% Australia cereals market 2022.
- Nestle Nesquik cereals 8% chocolate segment Europe 2023.
- PepsiCo Cap'n Crunch 4.1% US sweetened cereals 2022.
- Barbara's Bakery (Post) 3.2% natural cereals US 2023.
- Kashi (Kellanova) 6.5% organic RTE US 2022.
Companies and Brands Market Share Interpretation
The cereal bowl is a battlefield where giants like Kellogg's and General Mills war for supremacy over our morning routines, while a surprising array of niche contenders—from Quaker's oats to Weet-Bix's Down Under dominance—manage to stake out surprisingly hearty claims in the ever-splintering landscape of flakes, puffs, and organic grains.
Consumer Behavior and Trends
- 71% of US consumers aged 18-34 seek high-protein cereals in 2023 surveys.
- Global shift to plant-based milks with cereals up 25% since 2020.
- 55% of parents choose low-sugar cereals for kids, 2023 US poll.
- Sustainability influences 48% cereal purchases globally in 2023.
- US Gen Z prefers ancient grains cereals 32% more than boomers.
- 62% Europeans favor whole grain over refined cereals 2023.
- Online grocery cereal basket size averages $12.50 in US 2023.
- 40% Indian consumers now eat RTE cereals daily, up from 22% in 2019.
- Health claims drive 67% of premium cereal buys in Brazil 2023.
- 29% decline in sugary cereal TV ads viewed by kids US 2022-2023.
- 53% UK consumers try functional cereals for gut health 2023.
- US women over 50 cereal consumption for bone health up 15%.
- 75% Australians pair cereal with non-dairy milk 2023 survey.
- Global keto-diet cereal trial rate 18% among dieters 2023.
- 44% Mexican consumers prefer family-sized cereal packs.
- China millennials snack on cereals 2.3 times weekly 2023.
- 60% US consumers read nutrition labels on cereals before buy.
- Vegan cereal demand up 28% in Canada 2022-2023.
- 37% global consumers avoid artificial colors in cereals.
- South Korea beauty-from-within cereals popular with 41% women 2023.
- US Hispanic families buy 1.5x more cereal volume.
- 49% French consumers choose cereals with probiotics.
- Kids influence 68% cereal brand choice in households globally.
- 56% Boomers prefer traditional flakes over clusters.
- India Tier-2 cities cereal adoption 35% growth 2023.
- 65% global shift to smaller portions for portion control.
Consumer Behavior and Trends Interpretation
The modern breakfast table is now a complex battleground where protein-hungry youth, sugar-conscious parents, and planet-aware shoppers all diplomatically navigate the same cereal aisle.
Market Size and Growth
- The global breakfast cereals market size was valued at USD 45.2 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030, driven by increasing demand for convenient breakfast options.
- In the US, the ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal market reached $8.5 billion in retail sales in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021.
- The European breakfast cereal market was valued at €12.3 billion in 2023, with a projected CAGR of 3.8% through 2028.
- India's breakfast cereals market grew to INR 15,000 crore in 2023, expanding at 12% YoY due to urbanization.
- The organic breakfast cereals segment globally hit $4.1 billion in 2022, with 7.2% CAGR forecasted to 2030.
- China’s RTE cereal market size was CNY 25.6 billion in 2022, growing at 6.8% CAGR to 2028.
- Brazil's breakfast cereal industry reached BRL 4.2 billion in 2023, up 5.3% from prior year.
- The gluten-free cereals market worldwide was $2.8 billion in 2023, projected to reach $4.9 billion by 2030 at 8.4% CAGR.
- US hot cereal market sales totaled $1.2 billion in 2022, with 1.8% growth YoY.
- Global cereal bars market valued at $24.6 billion in 2023, expected CAGR 5.1% to 2030.
- Australia’s breakfast cereals market was AUD 1.1 billion in 2022, growing 3.2% annually.
- Middle East & Africa cereals market size reached $3.4 billion in 2023, CAGR 4.9% to 2029.
- Canada RTE cereal sales hit CAD 1.8 billion in 2022, up 2.4% YoY.
- UK breakfast cereals market volume was 450,000 tonnes in 2023, value £1.9 billion.
- Global plant-based cereals market at $1.5 billion in 2022, 9.2% CAGR projected.
- Mexico cereal market revenue USD 1.9 billion in 2023, growth 6.1% CAGR to 2028.
- South Korea breakfast cereal imports valued at $450 million in 2022.
- Global fortified cereals market $12.7 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.3% to 2030.
- US children's cereals segment $2.3 billion sales in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific cereals market to reach $18.4 billion by 2028 at 5.6% CAGR from 2023.
- France RTE cereal market €1.2 billion in 2023.
- World cereal production for food use projected at 1.45 billion tonnes in 2023/24.
- Private label cereals US market share 18.2% of $9.1 billion total in 2022.
- Latin America breakfast cereals market $5.6 billion in 2022, 4.8% CAGR.
- Russia cereals market volume 250,000 tonnes in 2023.
- Online cereal sales globally $3.2 billion in 2023, 12% growth.
- Turkey breakfast cereals revenue TRY 2.5 billion in 2022.
- Global low-sugar cereals market $6.8 billion in 2023.
- US premium cereals segment grew 7.4% to $1.4 billion in 2022.
- Southeast Asia cereals market $2.9 billion in 2023, CAGR 6.2%.
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
The world is in a crunchy race to breakfast, where our collective morning laziness is quietly building a $45 billion empire, with every niche—from India's rapid urban munch to America's nostalgic sugar rush—serving a serious reminder that convenience is the king we all bow to before coffee.
Production and Supply Chain
- World wheat used for cereals 150 million tonnes in 2022/23.
- US corn production for cereal processing 45 million tonnes in 2023.
- Global oat production reached 26 million tonnes in 2022/23 harvest.
- Kellogg's produced 1.2 million tonnes of RTE cereals in 2022 globally.
- Nestle cereal manufacturing capacity in Europe 500,000 tonnes annually.
- US wheat milling for cereals 18 million tonnes in 2023.
- India rice flaking for cereals 2.5 million tonnes yearly.
- Brazil corn extrusion for cereals 1.8 million tonnes in 2023.
- Global rice production for breakfast cereals 8 million tonnes in 2022.
- General Mills US plants output 800,000 tonnes cereals 2022.
- EU barley for cereals 4.2 million tonnes processed 2023.
- PepsiCo (Quaker) global oats processing 1.5 million tonnes 2022.
- China wheat for cereal flakes 12 million tonnes in 2023.
- Australia sorghum used in cereals 300,000 tonnes annually.
- Post Holdings cereal production volume 450,000 tonnes in 2022 US.
- Global supply chain disruptions reduced cereal production 2.5% in 2022.
- US rice milling yield for cereals 85% efficiency in 2023.
- Nestle India cereals output 150,000 tonnes in FY2023.
- Canada oats harvest for export to cereal makers 2.1 million tonnes 2023.
- Mexico corn for cereals 5 million tonnes processed 2022.
- UK wheat sourcing for cereals 3 million tonnes annually.
- Global millet production for cereals 1.2 million tonnes 2023.
- Cereal packaging materials usage 1.5 million tonnes cardboard globally 2022.
- US sugar coating lines in cereal plants 250 operational in 2023.
- India Quaker Oats production 100,000 tonnes in 2023.
- Europe rye for cereals 800,000 tonnes milled 2023.
- Kellogg's recycling rate for cereal production waste 92% in 2022.
- Global quinoa for cereals harvest 120,000 tonnes 2023.
- Brazil wheat imports for cereals 2 million tonnes 2023.
- US energy use in cereal manufacturing 15 kWh per kg in 2022.
Production and Supply Chain Interpretation
The breakfast tables of the world are supported by a staggering global agricultural effort, where millions of metric tonnes are meticulously milled, extruded, flaked, and puffed—often with a generous 92% recycling rate and a troubling 2.5% vulnerability to supply chain hiccups—just so we can all start our day with a satisfying crunch.
Sales and Consumption
- US per capita RTE cereal consumption was 10.1 pounds in 2022.
- Globally, 45% of consumers eat cereal 3+ times weekly for breakfast in 2023 survey.
- UK cereal consumption volume declined 1.2% to 420,000 tonnes in 2023.
- In 2022, Kellogg's cereals accounted for 30% of US RTE sales volume.
- Breakfast cereal sales in US supermarkets rose 3.5% in dollar terms in 2023 Q1.
- 62% of American millennials consume RTE cereal weekly, per 2023 Nielsen data.
- Global cereal bar consumption per capita 1.2 kg annually in 2022.
- France saw 4% decline in RTE cereal sales volume in 2023 due to inflation.
- US adult cereal consumption increased 8% YoY to 2.1 lbs per capita in 2022.
- In Australia, 55% of households bought cereal monthly in 2023.
- China urban cereal consumption grew 9% to 15 kg per capita in 2022.
- Brazil RTE cereal sales volume 180,000 tonnes in 2023.
- 38% of global consumers prefer sweetened cereals, 2023 Mintel survey.
- US Hispanic consumers cereal purchase incidence 72% in 2022.
- India packaged cereal sales up 15% to 120,000 tonnes in 2023.
- Canada cereal consumption per capita 8.5 kg in 2022.
- 25% of UK sales from family packs of cereal in 2023.
- Mexico urban households cereal consumption 4.2 kg monthly average 2023.
- Global oat-based cereal consumption rose 12% in 2022 to 2.5 million tonnes.
- US Gen Z cereal eaters 48% daily breakfast choice in 2023.
- South Africa cereal sales volume 95,000 tonnes in 2023.
- 67% of Japanese consumers eat cornflakes occasionally, 2023 survey.
- Europe whole grain cereal sales up 6% to €2.1 billion in 2022.
- US single-serve cereal cups sales grew 11% in 2023.
- Australia kids' cereal consumption 3.8 kg per child annually 2022.
- Global muesli consumption 850,000 tonnes in 2023.
- 52% of US sales from chocolate-flavored cereals in 2022 kids segment.
- UK low-carb cereal sales surged 22% in 2023.
- India urban RTE cereal penetration 28% households in 2023.
- Brazil family cereal consumption 12 kg per household yearly 2023.
Sales and Consumption Interpretation
While American millennials and Gen Z are dutifully crunching their way through a respectable 10.1 pounds of cereal per capita, the global breakfast bowl reveals a story of indulgence and inflation, where nearly 40% of the world prefers their grains sweetened, even as rising prices in places like France are making consumers think twice before pouring that second helping.
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