Lactose-free Milk Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Organic, Conventional), By Fat Content (Whole Milk, Reduced Fat Milk, Fat-free Milk), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Retail) And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global market for lactose-free milk is exhibiting strong growth primarily driven by the rising trend of consuming healthier milk options. The emerging trend of free-from foods heavily contributes to market growth. Lactose is a sugar present in milk and lactose-free milk is obtained by removing this sugar. The excessive consumption of sugar is believed to contribute to lifestyle-related health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The various health benefits associated with the consumption of lactose-free milk is expected to drive the growth of the market in foreseeable years.

The growing prevalence of lactose-intolerance among individuals is the other most important factor that fuels the growth of the global lactose-free milk market. Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder caused by the inability to digest lactose. This has necessitated manufacturers and processors to invest in research and advancements in lactose-free milk processing. Innovations and new product launches such as reduced-fat, fat-free, and organic lactose-free milk variants are expected to propel the market growth in the upcoming years.

The free-from foods trend is rapidly gaining importance across the globe with evolving consumer lifestyles that demand healthier foods. Earlier, the primary reason behind buying lactose-free milk was a medical condition associated with it, lactose intolerance. However, in recent times, consumers are inclined towards buying free-from food products because they are perceived to be a healthier alternative to conventional products. The rising awareness of the health benefits of sugar-free milk primarily drives the growth of the global lactose-free milk market.

Lactose is a sugar present in milk and it is partially responsible for the taste and flavor of the milk. The removal of lactose from milk affects its taste, texture, and flavor. It also complicates the processing of milk, increasing its cost. The challenges faced in maintaining the palatability of lactose-free milk primarily hampers the growth of the market. However, ongoing technological advancements that enable easy processing and maintenance of the original taste of milk are expected to contribute to market growth in the upcoming years.

Key Players Covered:

Nestle S.A., Danone S.A., Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd., Royal FrieslandCampina N.V., Organic Valley, Lactalis International, Arla Foods Group, Yili Group, Unilever Plc, and Valio Ltd. are the key players operating in the global lactose-free milk market.

Organic lactose-free milk is expected to exhibit strong sales performance owing to the increasing popularity of organic products. Organic milk is perceived to be safe and healthier as compared to conventional milk as the cows are fed with pesticide-free feed. The emerging trend of clean-label products is also expected to contribute to the growth of the organic lactose-free milk segment.

Reduced-fat lactose-free milk is anticipated to witness substantial growth attributed to the growing awareness of the negative health impacts caused by excessive fat consumption among consumers. Excessive fat consumption is associated with weight gain and chronic heart conditions. The rising demand for fat-free milk among fitness enthusiasts is also expected to contribute to segmental growth.

The supermarkets and hypermarkets segment is projected to witness robust growth owing to the availability of a wide variety of products and purchase convenience in these types of sales channels. Specific aisles are allocated for products in such stores providing a plethora of options to consumers. The discounts and offers launched by these mass merchandisers are also expected to boost their sales performance. Online retail is an emerging sector expected to exhibit promising growth in foreseeable years on account of the easy purchase and home delivery options.

Regional Analysis:

North America is anticipated to witness exponential growth due to the growing awareness of digestive health among consumers. People are inclined towards buying milk variants that support their digestive health and provide additional advantages over regular milk. The rising trend of consuming organic, low-fat, and sugar-free milk is projected to support the growth of the market in the region. Europe is expected to exhibit robust growth owing to the ongoing research and development activities in the dairy sector. The growing prevalence of lactose intolerance among individuals in the region has also contributed to market growth. The emerging trend of clean-label milk such as pesticide-free and non-GMO is expected to contribute to the growth in the European market.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness promising growth attributed to the rising awareness of the health benefits of lactose-free milk. The growing population of millennials interested in health-promoting and weight-management products drives the demand for lactose-free milk in the region. The increasing popularity of organic milk is expected to fuel the market growth in the upcoming years.  

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments

• In May 2020, DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences introduced a new dairy enzyme Bonlacta that facilitates the production of lactose-free milk. This launch will enable the company to capitalize on the growing demand for lactose-free milk.


• In July 2019, Organic Valley, a leading dairy in the U.S. announced a launch of its firs ultra-filtered, organic, lactose-free milk.