Gluten-free Rocket Ride Continues, Sales to Hit Nearly $5 Billion by 2021

Celiac.com 10/07/2016 - Sales of gluten-free products continue to rise, with global the market expected to approach $5 billion by 2021, up from $2.84 billion in 2014, according to a new report from Transparency Market Research.

Analysts are projecting annual revenue growth of about 7.7% across the sector from 2015 to 2021. They also project that, by 2021, North America will become the fastest growing gluten-free market, though Europe still currently dominates with a 52.5% share. Rising consumer belief in the potential health benefits of gluten-free products is a main factor driving growth in the gluten-free market. That, together with more cases of celiac disease and/or gluten sensitivity, increased use of gluten-free products as a weight management tool. Also a major factor is the high demand for gluten-free bakery products, the largest category in the gluten-free market.

The move by manufacturers toward more gluten-free products is probably a wise one. Even though nearly half of consumers claim gluten-free food is a fad, nearly one-in-four consumers said they consumed gluten-free products last year, and the demand for gluten-free products shows no sign of slowing down.