Functional foods—defined here as food and beverage products that offer a distinct health advantage beyond basic nutrition by including specific ingredients whose therapeutic benefits provide a primary market positioning—continue as a key food industry driver due to greatly ramped up product development and marketing. Although the economic recession may prohibit some consumers from purchasing higher-priced specialty items, functional foods can actually save consumers money in the short term by pumping up basic food items with ingredients shoppers would otherwise have to get in the form of more expensive nutritional supplements. Additionally, whereas in the past consumers were primarily reactive, trying to treat health problems after they arise, today they are more proactive, focusing on overall "wellness" and turning grocery aisles into hunting grounds for healthful, functional foods to prevent illness and chronic conditions.

This fully updated fourth-edition report examines the U.S. market for functional foods and beverages from all angles while providing insight into key international markets, identifying global trends in new product introductions by geographic region and company and exploring developing markets poised for growth. For the U.S. market, it presents retail sales breakouts of food and beverage categories with a strong functional tilt, from yogurt to food/snack bars to cranberry juice; examines market drivers and trends; and maps out the overall competitive situation. Trends in new product introductions are examined in depth, based on data from Product Launch Analytics, as are trends in functional ingredients and condition-specific product thrusts. The report also profiles major marketers, including Groupe Danone, Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods, Nestlé SA, PepsiCo and Nature’s Path Organic.

An exclusive feature of Functional Foods and Beverages in the U.S., 4th Edition is custom survey data from the February 2009 online poll of 2,600 U.S. adults, which was conducted to measure purchasing patterns, attitudes and demographics specific to functional foods and beverages. Drilling down to the marketer and brand level, the analysis also relies on consumer survey data from the Fall 2008 National Consumer Study, and on Information Resources, Inc. InfoScan Review data charting product sales in mass-market channels.

About the Author

Marigny Research Group, Inc. (MRG) is a producer of customized private-label market research reports, offering services including title development, research, market analysis, writing, editing, proofreading, desktop production, and marketing support, with a network of market research professionals that extends across the United States. Since 1986 MRG has authored more than 200 reports published under the imprint, covering consumer packaged goods, demographic, retail, and financial markets. Within these and other areas, MRG has developed complete report lines, most recently focusing on the burgeoning market for pet products and services.