The Growth of The Gluten-Free Market

Isaac Addo

March 30th, 2020

Imagine not being able to eat some tasty birthday cake without experiencing diarrhea. Or even worse – imagine bread being the cause for your infertility. For many people this is not something that they are simply imagining and questioning, it is something that they are experiencing daily. Because of this small protein called gluten, they are unable to eat most foods that healthy people enjoy in on a daily basis. But all of that changed as soon as the first gluten-free product hit the shelves at our local markets. Since then, the gluten-free market quickly began to grow and expand. It finally transformed in what we see today – a long line of gluten-free products offered at various price points. And the market does not seem to stop expanding.

Follow Gluten-Free Diet

To follow a gluten-free diet, you must avoid all types of wheat, rye, and barley. Since these grains listed in the ingredients list of many of the foods that we like to eat, we have to either avoid them or find a good alternative that we can use instead. And that is how the idea of gluten-free products born. However, when this idea has initially born, nobody could predict its popularity in the years to come. The same goes for the entire gluten-free market that exists nowadays. And it seems that its popularity not meant to come to a stop anywhere near in the future as a rapid and continuous increase expected to follow in the next five years as well.

The continuous growth of the gluten-free market is predicted In the most recent years, it seems that eating “clean," following a vegan, paleo, keto, and other popular diet plans has become more of a fashion rather than a much-needed necessity. Surveys and research have shown that consumers have the habit of associating anything that is made as “free-from” with either a natural or a healthy form, while that is not always the case, of course. And while in the past, only about 5% of the households avoided a certain food or food groups, made as “free-from” anything from dairy to gluten, those numbers have increased in the past three months of this year. Nowadays, up to 54% of households avoid certain food or a food group. With these numbers growing, the number of manufacturers who specialize in producing food that is free of gluten keeps on growing as well. If you think about it, it is now that we have the biggest choice than ever when it comes to choosing gluten-free pasta, bread, cereal, or anything else, really. There has been a real boost to the market that specializes in manufacturing these sorts of products, and in return, there have been more supermarkets and restraunts that offer a variety of gluten-free products to their customers as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLMB3OVvk0 Yet another reason as to why the gluten-free market keeps on expanding is the fact that celiac disease is one of the driving factors of the market, with its incidence increasing each day. All around the world, the number of celiac disease cases keeps increasing, which is a significant factor that leads to market growth. According to the latest research available online, around 1% of healthy, average Americans have been diagnosed with celiac disease. And that is only the United States. An increase of cases has been seen in other countries as well, including Finland, where the incidence is as high as 2.4% and Europe in general, where the incidence is at 1%. After all, our health does matter, and if going gluten-free help, we sure ought to exclude it from our diet without much of thinking.

Market Value

The Global Gluten-Free Products Market has been valued at $3,126 million, and it is expected to grow up to $5,279 million by 2022. A further increase is expected to happen on a 5-year plan as well. The gluten-free market expected to hop with 9.5% from 2019 to 2025. That is approximately $6.43 billion by 2025. This is certainly some good news for the gluten-free manufacturers. No matter whether it is the increase of celiac disease incidence or this new fashion that more and more millennials are following, growth in the gluten-free market is certainly about to happen in the future, at a much faster rate than it is already happening now – that is for sure.

The importance of gluten-free food

We often hear about gluten-free food and yet many of us do not even know what gluten is. Gluten refers to a specific protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have ever wondered how bread and pasta manage to maintain their specific shape – it is all thanks to the gluten found in these foods. Unfortunately, many of us are living with something called celiac disease. The celiac disease represents a chronic digestive disorder. In fact, as much as 3 million Americans are living with celiac disease, with up to 97% being undiagnosed cases. In people with celiac disease, their body has an immune reaction to gliadin. You see, the gluten protein made of gliadin and glutenin, with gliadin being the water-soluble part of gluten. Celiac disease causes inflammation of the small intestine’s inner lining, thus interrupting the absorption of all nutrients found in food. According to Harvard Health, eating even the smallest crouton can lead to the uncomfortable symptoms of this disorder. Chronic diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, and gas are some common symptoms. But the celiac disease can also lead to some more severe symptoms including infertility, nerve damage, depression, migraine, etc.

Foods to Be Avoided

To preserve their good health, patients with celiac disease have to avoid a long list of foods. Bread, pasta, processed meats, soups, and any food that contains gluten is a big no-no. So, you must be wondering – What can gluten-free people eat? Many foods are naturally gluten-free such as eggs, fruits, veggies, fresh meat, white rice, fish, and many more. And then we also have the many delicious gluten-free foods as well. Having gluten-free foods available is of essential importance for these patients. The gluten-free market makes living a lot easier for those with celiac disease.

Numbers Growing

Nowadays, the number of new celiac disease cases is growing everywhere. But gluten-free foods are also used by several health individuals as well. Many consider the gluten-free foods to be a healthier option for them, and so, they continuously invest in gluten-free foods. As a 2017 study explained, gluten may cause digestive issues even in those without celiac disease. Avoiding common gluten sources can help prevent such issues. Over the years, scientists have been working hard on finding potential links between celiac disease and other common health issues. Some scientists suggest that there may be a potential link between celiac disease and schizophrenia. Avoiding gluten could potentially help these patients to better manage their symptoms. Similar suggestions have been made regarding autism and epilepsy. Although more research needs to be done, there is no denying the fact that the gluten-free market is of special value to a number of people.

The continuous growth of the gluten-free market

We discuss the growth of the global gluten-free market for the sole reason that a rise in the incidence of celiac disease appears outside the United States as well. Keep in mind that celiac disease affects up to 1% of the American population. Speaking about Europe, we also see up to 1% of the population affected by this disorder. The highest incidence is seen in Finland, with celiac disease affecting 2.4% of the population. This is where the gluten-free foods come in handy, both for those with and without celiac disease. The continuous increase in new celiac disease cases, as well as the increasing number of people who are eliminating gluten from their diet, contributes to the continuous growth of the gluten-free market. Celiac disease is still the number one factor responsible for this continuous growth. Now let’s discuss some important numbers. Back in 2019, the global gluten-free market valued at $4.35 billion. Since then, experts have been expecting to see a further increase in numbers. In 2025, the value of the global gluten-free market will supposedly reach $6.43 billion. That number will continue growing and by the year 2027, its value expected to increase up to $7.5 billion.

Incidence Might Rise

Like the value of the global gluten-market itself, the incidence of celiac disease will rise in the future as well. Celiac disease will continue to exist as the number one factor responsible for the growth of the gluten-free market in the future. The overall value of the global gluten-free market is not the only thing that is expecting an increase in the future. We see an increase in the variety of gluten-free brands as well. Not to mention the variety of gluten-free products! From gluten-free bread and pasta, we now have the opportunity to enjoy products such as gluten-free cakes, pies, and other tasty treats that are here to satisfy your sweet tooth! The gluten-free market has to offer something to everyone. From sweet and salty to savory foods, going gluten-free has never been easier. With the continuous investments that people are making in the global gluten-free market, they are allowing the possibility for this market to grow. This is certainly good news, not only for the gluten-free manufacturers but for the gluten-free consumers as well.

Conclusion

With more and more people going gluten-free, experts continue to report on the gluten-free market expanding and growing. Its success shows via the increased number of brands offering a wider selection of gluten-free prices on a global level. This is good news for gluten-free manufacturers as well as for those who are in the lookout for gluten-free products.