BWI: Greater Awareness of the Functional Benefits of Ingredients Drives the Health Foods and Beverages Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Frost & Sullivan
Monday, December 20, 2010 02:42 PM IST (09:12 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Food & drink; Business: Accounting & management consultancy services, Advertising, PR & marketing
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Greater Awareness of the Functional Benefits of Ingredients Drives the Health Foods and Beverages Market, Finds Frost & Sullivan


Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, December 20, 2010 -- (Business Wire India) -- The higher demand for innovative food and beverage ingredients is catalyzing the growth of the health beverages and foods in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Enhanced consumer awareness about the benefits of healthy dietary habits, changing lifestyles, and a rising per capita income due to a surge in oil prices have encouraged consumers to switch to healthy food alternatives.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.food.frost.com), Strategic Analysis of GCC Health Foods and Beverages Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $850 million in 2009.

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail to Tanu Chopra/ Nimisha Iyer, Corporate Communications, at tanu.chopra@frost.com / niyer@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

"The market has got a boost from the growing preference for foods with health and wellness advantages to offset the sedentary lifestyle due to urbanization," says Frost & Sullivan Research Associate Srividyaranjani V. "Functional ingredients, in particular, are going a long way in hiking the sales of health foods and beverages and this trend is expected to continue, as consumers become more aware of the greater functional benefits of ingredients."

To fulfill its abundant potential, the market has to achieve greater self-regulation and improve product standardization. Market participants are striving to differentiate their products, innovate, and expand their distribution to stand out in the crowd and gain consumer acceptance.

Furthermore, health foods and beverages typically have a low base of consumers in this region, as people are lax about their eating habits and are not keen on novel foods. However, all this is changing, as consumers are becoming curious about these new products.

"Reacting to the greater consumer interest, it is important to strategically position products to create brand loyalty and product niches that will reduce confusion about products," notes Srividyaranjani. "Better positioning to differentiate health foods from the conventional variants of the product will not only ensure greater product clarity, but also attract traditional consumers who are skeptical about consuming such products."

As this market is still nascent, participants will be looking to penetrate it deeply and extensively and focus on product development. In even younger markets such as malted health beverages and sports and energy drinks, market expansion is the best way forward.

Strategic Analysis of GCC Health Foods and Beverages Market is part of the Food & Beverage Ingredients Growth Partnership Services program, which also includes research in the following markets: Strategic Analysis of the Indian Functional Foods and Beverage Markets, Probiotics in Foods and Beverages - Strategic Assessment of the Indian Market, and Indian Confectionery Ingredients - Industry Outlook. All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.


About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

Strategic Analysis of GCC Health Foods and Beverages Market
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CONTACT DETAILS
Tanu Chopra Corporate Communications - Middle East, Frost & Sullivan, +91 22 4001 3437, tanu.chopra@frost.com
Anish Charles Corporate Communications - South Asia, Frost & Sullivan, +91 22 4001 3419, anishc@frost.com
Nimisha Iyer Corporate Communications - South Asia & Middle East, Frost & Sullivan, +91 98200 50519, niyer@frost.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, FOOD, CONSULTANCY SERVICES, MARKETING

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