The global probiotic drinks market is growing at a lucrative rate. Some of the major factors that are fostering the growth of the global market include growing awareness regarding the wellness of the gut, increase in demand for on-the-go consumption drinks, and growing inclination towards healthy lifestyle. In recent years, for good reasons, gut health has been considered to be the healthiest trend word in wellness and thus, there is rise in shift towards probiotic drinks these days. In the digestive tract, the so-called good bugs help boost immunity, prevent childhood eczema and allergies, prevent or treat diarrhea, alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), cure urinary tract infections, enhance learning and memory, bring down cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and many more.
In addition to the benefits of probiotic drinks, manufacturers are highly investing in the development of new products with a wide range of flavors as well as key marketing & advertising strategies to attract the consumer. All such factors are contributing to the growth of the global probiotic drinks market. In addition to this, the exponential rise in cases of gastro-intestinal diseases is enhancing the penetration of probiotic drinks in the market at a rapid rate. As per the studies and survey conducted on more than 73,000 people in 33 countries, it is been found that more than 40 percent of the people suffer from a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Such a huge prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal disorders is accelerating the consumption of probiotic drinks across the world, especially in emerging countries. Moreover, an increase in disposable income, increase in spending on healthy food & drinks, and growing demand for functional food & beverages from health-conscious consumers are fostering the growth of the global market. Additionally, the growing trend of veganism and increase in the number of populations with lactose intolerance is fueling up the demand for plant-based probiotic drinks, which in turn is propelling the overall growth market. Also, increase in sales of probiotic drinks through online distribution channels owing to the rise in number of online retailers and hassle-free delivery is boosting the growth of the global market. On the other hand, low penetration of the product in low- and middle-income countries may hinder the growth of the global probiotic drinks market. However, the adoption of technologically advanced and effective screening methods by the manufacturers for probiotic assessment may lead to ample growth opportunities for the growth of the global probiotic drinks market over the forecast period.
Current COVID-19 pandemic conditions have positive effect of the market. Panic buying of healthy food supplements during the pandemic period has already fueled the demands for probiotic drinks. Health benefits of probiotics causing massive sell of its products all over the world. Besides, probiotic drinks offer convenient and tasty way to consume probiotics which is why demand for such products is high during pandemic period. However, manufacturers are struggling to maintain the demand due to less workforce and limitations of transport.
Probiotic Drinks market is categorized based on type and distribution channel. Different types of probiotic drinks include fruit based, dairy based, and plant based. Further, different channels through which customers can buy the products include Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, pharmacies/health stores, online retail store, and other distribution channels.
Major players in the market are focusing on organic growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to expand their business, key players in the market include Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., GCMMF (Amul), Danone S.A., Nestle SA, PepsiCo, Harmless Harvest, NextFoods, Bio-K Plus International Inc., Lifeway Foods, Inc., Fonterra Co-operative Group, and Chobani, LLC, among others.
Trends and Future Outlook:
- In January 2020, Japans Kirin Beverage Co announced the launch of iMUSE water for sports and daily hydration which contains its probiotic Lactococcus Lactis Strain Plasma.
- In Feb 2018, A 50-50 joint venture of Yakult Honsha and Danone, Yakult Danone India launched a new version of its signature probiotic drink known as Yakult Delight.
