The global gluten-free products market size is estimated to account for nearly USD 5.6 billion in 2020 and projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1%, to reach nearly USD 8.3 billion by 2025. The gluten-free products market is driven by factors such as increased diagnosis of celiac diseases and rising adoption for special dietary lifestyles & free form food products. Also, increasing availability of gluten-free products in organized retails is expected to propel the growth of this market in the coming years.
In conventional gluten-containing foods and food products, gluten proteins are responsible for the management and retention of moisture, which in turn, impart the products with a relatively long shelf-life. However, when the products are manufactured gluten-free, to cater to the increasing demand of the global end consumers, it tends to have a shorter shelf-life and, in most cases, lacks its texture aesthetics. Furthermore, it is tough for the key players to manufacture a line of gluten-free products to increase moisture retention and shelf-life. Thus, they require continuous R&D and incorporation of newer technologies to attain the desired shelf-life.
Microencapsulation is one such recent technology that can aid manufacturers to achieve this goal of increasing the shelf-life and texture of their range of gluten-free products. The same technology has been used to overcome the cardboard consistency of refrigerated pizza, rising crust pizza, and also for the shelf-life extension of frozen and refrigerated dough, frozen biscuit dough, scoop and bake frozen muffins, and biscuits.
The coatings used in the application of this technology are gluten-free. Further, there is a wide range of gluten-free fruit acids and lactic acid shelf-life extenders, which, when coated on the product, can help deliver optimum & consistent leavening, thereby overcoming pre-reactions. This can help in extending the shelf-life and deliver an all-natural taste and texture with good consumer appeal. Therefore, such newer technological innovations and formulations aid manufacturers of gluten-free foods and food products in producing long shelf-life products that can cater to the global demand, by transporting it across regions and which can be consumed over a longer period. For instance, companies such as Legacy Farms offer long shelf-life products, such as gluten-free cheese and broccoli bake, soup mixes, and pinto bean stews.
Major players in the market are mainly focusing on undertaking new product launches and mergers & acquisitions to meet the growing demand from consumers. The undertaking of new product launches as a key growth strategy has enabled the market players to expand their product portfolio.
