Market Overview of Health and Wellness Food Products

The health and wellness of foods and beverages is a broad subject that continues to evolve and be of increasing interest to both consumers and manufacturers. Market share in this industry is largest in the United States and Europe, but most of the growth is coming from China. The health and wellness food market can be roughly classified into five categories: “natural,” “organic,” “fortified/functional,” “better-for-you,” and “free-from.” Naturally healthy and fortified/functional are the largest market segments, but “free-from” is the fastest-growing category. Consumer interest in healthy lifestyles and demand for healthier products and services continue to escalate globally. Increased food sensitivities, the standardization of health certification procedures, and the popularity of socially and environmentally sustainable production have all contributed to the growth of health and wellness food and beverage products. For example, reformulations like sugar reduction, the removal of artificial ingredients, and the increasing application of high-intensity natural sweeteners are common practices adopted to improve a product’s health credentials. However, economic, informational, and demographic challenges still exist. This chapter will cover the overall market for health and wellness of foods and beverages. The chapter will include (1) an introduction to the concept of health and wellness in food and beverage products; (2) market statistics and market sector classifications; (3) trends in consumer preferences; (4) sustainable production processes; and (5) major challenges and future perspectives.