Food Intolerance and Allergies - UK

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Oct. 1, 2007 - 93 Pages

Table of Contents

Issues in the Market

Definitions

Free-from foods

Excluded

Key themes

Market in Brief

Healthy growth

Confusion and mis-diagnosis reigns…

… but this is helping the market

A playing field for all

The future

Internal Market Environment

Key Points

Growing awareness

Food intolerance and allergies

Figure 1: Percentage of Hypersensitivity sufferers, 2007

Rising awareness is key factor

Product labelling

Figure 2: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, 2005-07

Growing media interest equals increased awareness

Raising awareness = greater propensity to self-diagnose

The new way to diet

Figure 3: Adults who are trying to slim, 2002-06

Healthy eating and nutrition

Figure 4: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements 2003-07

Ethical issues

Figure 5: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements 2003-07

In-store fixtures

Championing food intolerance and allergy

Broader Market Environment

Key Points

Demographic changes

AB socio-economic status growing

Figure 6: Changes in socio-economic status, 2002-2012

Ageing population

Figure 7: Changes in UK population by age, 2002-2012

Children are more pre-disposed to food hypersensitivity

Figure 8: Hypersensitivities split by adults and children

Ethnic diversity a boon to growth

Figure 9: Ethnic population, 2001

Increased intolerances

Figure 10: Types of intolerances, 2007

Food labelling

Greater importance of food labelling

More stringent…

Figure 11: Major allergenic foods for which there is mandatory labelling in the EU directive *, November 2005

…. and wider in scope

And tighter

Competitive Context

Key Points

Abstinence

Figure 12: The Abstinence options for a gluten-free diet, 2007

Traditional versus trendy dieting

Prescription sales

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Market Value and Forecast

Key Points

Figure 13: Estimated UK retail sales* of gluten-free, dairy-free and other free-from foods, by value, 2002-07

Market growth….

…but price pressure is rising

No premium options

Lack of chilled options

Segment Performance

Key Points

Growth abounds

Figure 14: Estimated value of UK retail sales of free-from foods, by sector, 2004-07

Dairy-free is booming

Consumer going dairy-free

Mammalian - sourced dairy-free milk

Non-mammalian sourced dairy-free milk

Figure 15: Dairy-free market, allergens and permissible free from foods, 2007

Soya market growth from mainstream

Soya = Alpro

Soya-free remains niche

Wheat-free and gluten-free

Wheat-free

Gluten-free

Cereals are growing

Pasta and bread on prescription

Others

Nut-free

Egg-free

The future

Growing trend for self diagnosis

Compromise of avoidance diet

More product differentiation and branding

Forecast

Continued growth

Figure 16: Forecast of the gluten-free, dairy-free and other free-from foods, by value, at current and constant prices, 2002-12

Free-from foods growth fuelled by a growing AB population

More individuals swapping into free-from foods

Factors used in the forecast

Market Share

Key Points

Figure 17: Estimated value of UK brands in the free-from sector, 2005-07

The key players come to the fore-front

Producers are carving out their own section

Wheat/gluten-free - when two becomes one

Own label making a significant impact

Specialist category producers move into the market

Product Positioning

Key Points

Figure 18: Price comparisons of free-from foods to rest of market offerings, September 2007

Companies and Products

Key Points

Figure 19: Brand positioning - free-from foods, June 2007

Company profiles

Alpro

So Good International

Nutrition Point

Dietary Specials

Trufree

Orgran

Gluten Free Foods

Kallo Foods

General Dietary (Ener-G)

Doves Farm

The Village Bakery

St Helens Farm

Yorkshire Farm Bakery

Others

Own label

Brand Communication and Promotion

Key Points

Figure 20: Main monitored media adspend on free-from foods, 2003-07

Alpro dominates

Figure 21: Main monitored media ad spend by brand on free-from foods, 2003-07

A healthy start…

Endorsement

Expertise

Channels to Market

Key Points

Figure 22: Retail channels of distribution for free-from food, 2005-07*

Grocery multiples own the market

Health food shops stunted

Increase the convenience

Consumer 1 - Who - Usage and Frequency?

Key Points

Allergy alert

Figure 23: Food intolerance and allergies, August 2007

Four in ten are affected

Consumers don’t take risks with children

Avoiding peanuts is most common amongst whole families

Non sufferers

Figure 24: Agreement with statement food intolerance or allergies do not affect me/my family, by gender, age and socio-economic status, August 2007

Consumer 2 - Purchasing Behaviour

Key Points

Health not hypersensitivity

Figure 25: Purchase of food for allergy intolerances, August 2007

A healthy choice

ABs are the key target market

A lower price offering

Figure 26: Purchasing habits of free from foods by gender, socio-economic status and age, August 2007

Targeting children

Figure 27: Agreement with statement I do not buy these products by presence of children in household, August 2007

Supermarket correlation

Figure 28: Correlation of supermarket usage by free from purchasing habits, August 2007

Appendix

Abbreviations

Internal market environment

Cultural factors

Increased focus on the management of food hypersensitivity

Figure 31: Agreement with selected lifestyle statements, by demographic sub-group, 2007

Figure 32: Agreement with selected attitude statements and adults who are trying to slim, by demographic sub-group, 2006

Broader market environment

Figure 33: Population changes, 2002-12

Consumer 1 - Detailed demographics

Figure 35: Food intolernaces and allergies, August 2007

Consumer 2 - Detailed demographics

Figure 36: Purchase of food for allergy/intolerances, August 2007

Consumer 3 - Attitudes towards foods for food intolerances

Figure 37: Frequency of purchase and attitudes to food for food intolerances/allergies, August 2007

Figure 38: Food allergies and intolerances by attitudes to foods for intolerances and allergies, August 2007

Figure 39: Motivations for purchasing foods for allergies and intolerances by attitudes and frequency of purchase, August 2007

Figure 40: Motivations for purchasing foods for allergies and intolerances by attitudes and frequency of purchase, August 2007

Figure 41: Food allergies and intolerances by frequency of purchase and attitudes to foods for intolerances and allergies, August 2007

Figure 42: Food allergies and intolerances by attitudes to foods for intolerances and allergies, August 2007

Figure 43: Cross-tabs of attitudes to free-from foods by attitudes to free-from foods, August 2007

Figure 44: Cross-tabs of attitudes to free from foods by attitudes to free from foods, august 2007

Abstract

The awareness and complexity of food allergies and intolerance are undoubtedly rising rapidly in the UK. Is the free-from foods market rising to this new challenge or adding to the issues?

Food and drink targeted at consumers with specific food intolerances or allergies is referred to in this report as free-from food. It is a small but burgeoning sector; aided by increased space on supermarket shelves; it has left the medical domain and has become relevant to a wider consumer base. Dairy alternatives, such as soya milk, have found particular resonance with consumers.

This report examines the UK retail market for foods that are manufactured and targeted specifically at consumers who suffer from food intolerance and/or food allergies or who are following avoidance diets.

A food allergy is the immune system’s reaction to proteins in food products. Thus only foods with proteins can evoke an allergy. This is more immediate.

Food intolerance does not involve the immune system, and is a delayed response, sometimes up to days, thus is more difficult to diagnose and could be a combination of foods.

The general term to cover food allergy and food intolerance is food hypersensitivity.

Get Full Details About This Report >>

About MarketResearch.com
MarketResearch.com is an online aggregator selling over 160,000 market research reports, company profiles and country profiles from over 600 research firms. Our reports will provide you with the critical business and competitive intelligence you need for strategic planning and marketing research. Coverage includes the US, UK, Europe, Asia and global markets.