Dehydrated Foods Market in Europe

Europe Dehydrated Food Market Analysis

The Europe Dehydrated Food Market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period.

The evolving retail landscape and product innovations in packaging, format, and flavors have significantly contributed to the market's growth. Rising demand for food products with longer shelf life, increasing demand for non-seasonal products, and increasing demand from food manufacturers for preserving food products that can be used as an ingredient for prolonged periods are fueling the demand for the dehydrated food market. The growing health consciousness among consumers led to the rapid growth of dehydrated food. Dehydrated fruit and vegetable products are perceived to be healthy, as they have more nutrients, compared to food products preserved by other technologies, like canning or refrigeration.

The growth of the food-processing sector and the high demand for ready-to-eat or convenience food products among European consumers have considerably increased in recent years, owing to the busy work lifestyle and the increasing working population. These products are easy to store, convenient to handle, and have a short preparation time. Thus, there is an increase in the demand for dehydrated food products, like snacks, ready-to-eat food items, dairy, beverages, and bakery and confectionery products. However, factors such as the high maintenance cost of different dehydrator machinery and less availability and awareness of other advanced technologies, like freeze-drying and vacuum drying, limit the market's growth.

Europe Dehydrated Food Market Trends

Rising Demand for Freeze-dried Food

The ease of the technique in processing heat-sensitive food products, like fruits and vegetables, that provide consumers with a prolonged shelf life without hampering the original properties is the major driving factor for the European freeze-dried food market. Moreover, consumers are attracted to these products, as the foods prepared using freeze-dried technology are easy to store, convenient to handle, and have a short preparation time. The market is primarily driven by rising expenditure on food and beverage, introducing products with longer shelf lives, increasing impulse purchasing, and growing demand for convenience foods that can be prepared quickly due to a shortage of available time. For instance, according to Statistics Denmark, in 2021, the average household consumption expenditure on frozen seafood in Denmark was USD 11.84.

Owing to fast-paced lifestyles and the need for a quick meal among adults, there has been a growing demand for healthy and convenient food that can be consumed instantly. Frozen foods are considered to provide that benefit as most of them can be cooked within less time for consumption. Similarly, consumers' rising interest and participation in outdoor sports, owing to the awareness about health and wellness and increasing interest in expedition activities and adventure play a significant role in driving the sales of freeze-dried food. These factors have been propelling the market growth.

United Kingdom to Drive the Regional Market

In the United Kingdom, the changes in traditional meal patterns drive the demand for convenience and on-the-go foods and snacks. This has fueled market growth in the country. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products account for the major share of the European market. The demand for spray-dried ingredients sourced from fruits, vegetables, and dairy-based products, like avocadoes, berries, mangoes, apples, milk, etc., is high in the United Kingdom, as they form an essential part of the preparation of local cuisines and staple food, such as bakery products like cakes and pastries.

In addition, freeze-dried foods, however, are expensive, and consumers are opting for these products, as they are worth the price in terms of shelf life, nutrition content, product varieties, and weight. According to the Chilled Food Association, in 2021, about USD 204.53 was spent by consumers on chilled vegetarian products in the United Kingdom. International brands operating in the United Kingdom, such as Camilk, Arla, and Nestle, also offer innovative products, gradually gaining traction in the country. For instance, in March 2021, Sausage brand Richmond and freeze-dried ingredients specialist European Freeze Dry launched plant-based mince and meatballs. These are available in two sizes, 335g, and 352g, respectively. With this launch, European Freeze Dry expanded its vegan freeze-dried meal in Europe. As products preserved through freeze-drying retain their flavor and nutrient content, consumers more often purchase freeze-dried foods over other instant foods, thereby enabling market growth.

Europe Dehydrated Food Industry Overview

The European dehydrated food market is fragmented with the presence of many players. The major players focus on product development, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and expansion to strengthen their position in the market. The major players are Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., Nestle S.A., European Freeze Dry, Ajinomoto Co. Inc., and Harmony House Foods, Inc., among others. Giant manufacturers in the freeze-dried market focus on leveraging opportunities posed by emerging markets, like Germany, Russia, and Spain, to expand their revenue base due to rising income levels and their increasing preference for different ready-to-eat food products.

Europe Dehydrated Food Market Leaders

Europe Dehydrated Food Market News

• In November 2022, Roha Group acquired Saraf Foods, a freeze-drying leader. With this acquisition, Roha further expanded its technology and product portfolio of dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and herbs in addition to its existing Newfoods plants in Italy. It added advanced technology like freeze-drying, air drying, and Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) of fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs.
• In August 2022, Mixologist's Garden launched six freeze-dried garnishes for drinks in the United Kingdom. The product is 90% lighter than fresh fruit. The three citrus lines (Lime, Lemon, and Orange) and three berry lines (Strawberry, Blueberry, and Raspberry) come in ready-to-serve resealable packs with ultra-long shelf life.
• In February 2021, European Freeze Dry launched its latest ingredient, freeze-dried jackfruit, in Europe.It has versatile uses, its texture, and the opportunities for use in pot meals to replace pulled pork or chicken.