Research carried out by Euromonitor indicates that the global functional foods market will be worth about €175 billion by 2012 – a 25% jump over 2007 levels of €120bn, according to Euro monitor International data.
In a global health and wellness market, which Euro monitor puts at €450bn, functional foods are the fastest growing sector and second only in value to naturally healthy foods (€155bn), both now and in 2012.
By 2012, better-for-you foods (€140bn) will be the third highest selling category, followed by vitamins and food supplements (€60bn); organic (€24bn); botanicals (€22bn); slimming products (€8bn); food intolerance products (€6bn) and sports nutrition products (€2.4bn).
