Free From Food Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth 2034

Free From Food Industry Prospective:

The global free from food market size was worth around USD 162.10 billion in 2024 and is predicted to grow to around USD 429.73 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 10.24% between 2025 and 2034.

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Free From Food Market: Overview

Free-from foods are special types of edible items that are designed to exclude certain ingredients. A common example of a popular free-from food is gluten-free items.

In addition, commonly excluded food ingredients include nuts, animal-based dairy items, meat products, and others. While some free-from foods cater to the medical needs of consumers, such as people with specific allergies, certain variants cater to the demands of consumers with specific diets.

For instance, vegan consumers prefer edible items that do not contain animal-derived ingredients in any form, including cow or buffalo-based milk. Variations of free-rom food are found in items of all types such as pizzas, pastas, snacks, cheese, and ready-to-eat meals as well. During the forecast period, the demand for free-from food is expected to continue growing, especially driven by the health concerns of the general population.

Additionally, market players can benefit from the increasing shift of consumers toward plant-based items as environmental consciousness among the ordinary population is on the rise.

One of the key challenging aspects of being free from food is achieving the right taste and texture once certain ingredients are excluded from food preparation. Additionally, the industry is also plagued with higher costs associated with the products available in the market.

Key Insights:

• As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the global free from food market is estimated to grow annually at a CAGR of around 10.24% over the forecast period (2025-2034)
• In terms of revenue, the global free from food market size was valued at around USD 162.10 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 429.73 billion by 2034.
• The free from food market is projected to grow at a significant rate due to the growing vegan population worldwide.
• Based on the product type, the bakery & confectionery segment is growing at a high rate and will continue to dominate the global market as per industry projection
• Based on the source, the plant-based segment is anticipated to command the largest market share.
• Based on region, Europe is projected to dominate the global market during the forecast period.

Free From Food Market: Growth Drivers

Growing vegan population worldwide to drive market demand in the future

The global free from food market is expected to be led by the rising vegan population across the globe. People following veganism solely consume plant-based products, including milk, cheese, and other dietary items. They refrain from consuming any products that are derived from animals, including honey.

Since the vegan population is rapidly growing across the globe, it has created several new opportunities for producers of plant-based food items to expand into new markets.

In January 2025, THIS, a plant-based meat company, announced the launch of the brand’s highly sought-after THIS Isn’t Pork Sausages at 19 IKEA restaurants across the UK. The sausages are currently priced at £4.95 and offer sustainable eating options to the customers.

Apart from following a strict vegan lifestyle, there is a growing trend of flexitarianism, which deals with the limited consumption of animal meat. According to market analysis, consuming red meat in restricted quantities can play a crucial role in curbing climate change. Meat-free food items also promote excellent gut health and overall well-being. The awareness rate around the holistic benefits of a vegan diet will promote demand for meat alternatives in the food industry.

Growing number of people with several types of food allergies to promote market expansion trends

Food allergy is a highly common type of medical condition that prompts the body to identify a certain food component as harmful, which triggers an allergic reaction. In some cases, food allergies are easy to manage, but if ignored, they can result in severe health concerns.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US reports nearly 30,000 emergency cases of food allergies every year, and 150 to 200 deaths are reported from the same cause.

The most common types of food allergies are triggered by soy, peanuts, milk, shellfish, wheat, and tree nuts. Patient awareness about food allergies has improved in the last few years, resulting in greater demand for products available in the global free from food market.

Free From Food Market: Restraints

Relatively higher cost of special food products to limit market growth trajectory

The global free from food industry is expected to be restricted by the relatively higher cost of food solutions. Generally, free-from edible items are developed using special ingredients. Companies spend hefty amounts on research & innovation to ensure that the free-from-food item is rich in taste, flavor, texture, and nutrition.

Furthermore, the deployment of special techniques to develop, package, store, and transport free food can also add to the final costs of the food items.

Free From Food Market: Opportunities

Expansion into new markets and product innovation to create further opportunities for growth

The global free from food market is expected to come across more growth opportunities due to rising expansion strategies adopted by market players to enter new markets.

For instance, in recent news, Bel Group, a leading French cheese company, announced the launch of plant-based cheese alternatives under the brand name Boursin and Babybel. The company has recently launched The Laughing Cow cheese made of almond milk. The cheese variant is currently available in two flavors and will be rolled out at Whole Foods and Kroger stores across the US in 2025.

Furthermore, in March 2025, Plenish, Britain’s plant-based beverage provider, launched Plenish Enriched Oat M*lk. The product offers a combination of essential nutrients and is currently the UK’s only clean-label fortified oat milk that does not contain any additives or oils.

In November 2024, Nestle, one of the world’s largest food companies, announced the launch of a new range of milk brands under the name N3 with several additional nutritional benefits. The company will first launch the product in the Chinese market. According to official reports, N3 consists of 15% fewer calories with low lactose content and the presence of higher prebiotic fiber content.

Free From Food Market: Challenges

Compliance with legal regulations is a major challenge for industry players

The global free from food industry faces several challenges due to the dynamic complexities of regulatory guidelines governing the market. Companies providing free-from-food items must adhere to changing regional regulations while obtaining legal certifications, such as gluten-free items. These laws require extensive research and compliance which can impact the final growth rate in the industry.

Free From Food Market: Report Scope

Free From Food Market: Segmentation

The global free from food market is segmented based on product type, sales channel, source, and region.

Based on the product type, the global market segments are dairy products, snacks & RTE products, bakery & confectionery, sausages & dressings, meat & meat substitutes, and others. In 2024, the highest growth was listed in the bakery & confectionery segment. It held dominance over 42.05% of the total market share in 2024 and will continue the same trend in the future. The increased demand for sugar-free and healthy dairy alternatives will promote a segmental expansion rate according to research.

Based on the sales channel, the global free from food industry segments are online retail, specialty store, pharmacies, convenience store, hypermarkets & supermarkets, and others.

Based on the source, the global market is divided into animal-based and plant-based. In 2024, the highest revenue was generated by the plant-based segment, which accounted for 70.05% of the final market share. The growing demand for animal substitutes in the food industry is a major market growth propeller. In addition, plant-based food companies are investing heavily in industry research and innovation, further contributing to segmental revenue.

Free From Food Market: Regional Analysis

Europe to continue dominating the industry during the forecast period, according to research

The global free from food market is expected to be led by Europe during the forecast period. Countries such as Spain, Switzerland, France, the UK, and others will emerge as some of the largest contributors to demand for free from food. Europe is home to some of the most thriving brands offering several types of food products free from certain ingredients.

According to recent market findings, over 45.05% of Europeans prefer plant-based milk over animal-based milk. In addition, the regional market further benefits from the availability of several options in the market which also assists in ensuring healthy competition and stable prices within Europe.

In a recent event, reports emerged suggesting that Burger King in Germany is working on developing plant-based meals that are more affordable than meat variants.

North America is a prominent market with exceptional signs of future growth. The regional market dominated nearly 34.05% of the global share in 2024.

The US will emerge as a leading regional market contributor. The growing launch of international free-from food products in the North American market and an increasing number of people with food allergies will generate higher revenue in the region. Demand for gluten-free food variants will be higher in North America, according to official projections.

Free From Food Market: Competitive Analysis

The global free from food market is led by players like:

• Amy's Kitchen
• Moo Free Ltd
• Vitasoy
• Eden Foods
• Dr. Praeger’s
• Saffron Road
• Daiya
• The EVERY Company
• Pacific Foods
• Remilk
• Follow Your Heart
• Beyond Meat
• Amylu Foods
• Beyond Meat
• Gardein
• Eat JUST Inc.
• Applegate
• Silk
• Alpro

The global free from food market is segmented as follows:

By Product Type

• Dairy Products
• Snacks & RTE Products
• Bakery & Confectionery
• Sausages & Dressings
• Meat & Meat Substitutes
• Others

By Sales Channel

• Online Retail
• Specialty Store
• Pharmacies
• Convenience Store
• Hypermarket/Supermarket
• Others

By Source

• Animal-Based
• Plant-Based

By Region

• North America
  • The U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • France 
  • The UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Southeast Asia
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Rest of Latin America
• Middle East & Africa
  • GCC
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa