Middle East And Africa Baby Food Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Type (Organic Baby Food, Non-Organic Baby Food), By Product Type (Dried Baby Food, Milk Formula, Prepared Baby Food, Others), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline), And By Country- Forecasts From 2025 To 2030

The Middle East and African baby food market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.11% over the forecast period, increasing from US$6,888.811 million in 2025 to US$10,152.750 million by 2030.

Baby food is a special type of food designed to be rich in nutrients and vitamins, soft, and easy to consume by infants or babies below the age of 2. Baby foods ensure a quick digestion of the food by the babies and offer high nutrition. These foods are majorly made with a higher quantity of fruits and vegetables, which are pureed or minced. Baby foods contain low sodium and lower fat quantity. 

What are the Middle East And Africa baby food market growth drivers?

Rising childbirth in the region is among the major factors pushing the demand for baby food products in the Middle East and African markets. The total population of the region witnessed a massive increase, majorly due to the development in the quality of living and increasing opportunities in the region. The World Bank, in its report, stated that the total population of Saudi Arabia was recorded at 35.950 million in 2021, which grew to 36.408 million in 2022, finally reaching 36.947 million in 2023. 

Similarly, the total population of UAE and South Africa also grew significantly over the years. The total recorded population of UAE in 2021 was 9.365 million, which expanded to 9.441 million in 2022 and 9.516 million in 2023. In South Africa, the total population recorded by the World Bank in 2021 was 59.392 million, which reached 59.893 million in 2022 and 60.414 million in 2023.

One of the key factors pushing the market for baby food in the Middle East and African region is the increasing participation of the female population in the workplace. With this increase, the demand for better-quality baby food products increases. Similarly, with the increasing female labor force in the region, the mother’s availability for preparing home-cooked baby food is also expected to decrease, increasing the demand for baby foods. 

The female participation in the region's labor force witnessed a massive increase. The World Bank, in its report, stated that, in Saudi Arabia, about 22.4% of the total workforce labor was female in 2021, which remains constant in 2022, increasing to 22.6% in 2023. The growing number of women in the workforce will lead to a higher preference for packaged infant food products that are convenient and easy to prepare. It will also impact sales through online channels that enable working parents to compare and purchase baby food quickly. 

The Middle East And Africa baby food market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

• Organic Baby Food segment is anticipated to propel significantly in the projected period.

Middle East and Africa are witnessing an increasing trend toward health and wellness, which has raised the acceptance of organic baby food. Likewise, more parents are concerned about the health risks of processed baby food, resulting in them becoming increasingly wary of non-organic or conventional baby foods containing pesticides, artificial additives, preservatives, etc. This is increasing the demand for organic products among parents in the region as they are increasingly being regarded as healthier, safer, and more nutritious, resulting in a rise in the market.

The organic baby food industry is innovating and competitively dominated by new formulas that meet evolving nutritional needs as well as lower the costs of production. Non-organic foods are now known to have numerous side effects when consumed over time. Thus, parents across the region are realizing the importance of organic food, especially regarding their baby's diet, as there is a huge dearth of proper nutritious organic whole foods and snacks. For instance, Australian children's nutrition company, Sprout Organic, partnered with the world's largest online retailer, Amazon, to debut its 100% plant-based infant formula in May 2022. The business made its Middle East debut at the Saudi Food Expo, promoting its range of organic foods with the new partnership signaling a wider rollout. It has a 100% plant-based formula, and its main product is made with pea and rice protein.

Parents are increasingly willing to spend more on premium products, such as organic baby food, as disposable income in the area increases. Following this, the International Energy Outlook 2023 sources showed that the overall disposable income per capita was US$2,228 in 2022. This figure is expected to increase to US$2,283 by 2025 and eventually amount to US$2,402 by 2030. Meanwhile, Africa will be valued at US$1,824 per capita, while the Middle East region is predicted to be valued at US$5,525 per capita in 2030, which will also contribute to the market growth. Additionally, as urbanization and working women increase, the need for quick, wholesome foods to feed children will follow. Ready-to-eat pouches or formula are the most common type of organic baby food products that parents in Saudi Arabia prefer as they reduce preparation time and offer quick usage.

Geographical Outlook of the Middle East And Africa baby food market:

• South African region is anticipated to propel with highest CAGR in the coming years.

In South Africa, the baby food market is a dynamic and evolving sector within the broader food and beverage industry. It includes a wide range of products specially designed to meet the nutritional needs of toddlers and infants. The market has been influenced by various factors, including shifting demographics, increased awareness of health and nutrition, and evolving parental preferences.

Moreover, the rise in the number of working women in the country’s workforce will positively impact the baby food market. As more women pursue careers and choose to continue working after childbirth, there is a growing demand for more convenient and time-saving solutions for infant nutrition. Further, this shift in societal norms has led to an increased reliance on packaged baby food products that are nutritious and easy to prepare and serve. For instance, according to the estimates from the World Bank, the labor force participation rate among women is expanding significantly in South Africa. In 2023, it reached 52.4% from 49.6% in 2021. These factors highlight lucrative prospects for increasing demand for baby food products in the coming years. 

The market is also influenced by parents' increasing emphasis on health and nutrition. There is a growing awareness of the importance of providing infants with a balanced and nutritious diet from the early stages of life. This is anticipated to propel the demand for baby food products that are free from artificial additives, preservatives, and allergens. Additionally, the rising trends of urbanization and booming internet penetration in the country are major factors that are expected to play a significant role in boosting the demand for baby food products in the upcoming years with the booming growth of the e-commerce sector.

The Middle East And Africa baby food market is analyzed into the following segments:

• By Type
  • Organic baby food
  • Non-organic baby food
• By Product type
  • Dried baby food
  • Milk formula
  • Prepared baby food
  • Others
• By Distribution channel
  • Online
  • Offline
• By Country
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Others

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Market Segmentation

1.5. Currency

1.6. Assumptions

1.7. Base and Forecast Years Timeline

1.8. Key Benefits for the Stakeholders

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY  

2.1. Research Design

2.2. Research Process

2.3. Data Validation

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3.1. Key Findings

3.2. Analyst View

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Supplier

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

5. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BABY FOOD MARKET BY TYPE

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Organic baby Food

5.3. Non-organic Baby Food

6. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BABY FOOD MARKET BY PRODUCT TYPE

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Dried Baby Food

6.3. Milk Formula

6.4. Prepared Baby Food

6.5. Others

7. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BABY FOOD MARKET BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Online

7.3. Offline

8. MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA BABY FOOD MARKET BY COUNTRY

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Saudi Arabia

8.3. South Africa

8.4. Others

9. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Competitive Dashboard

10. COMPANY PROFILES

10.1. Abbott

10.2. Nestle S.A.

10.3. The Baby Food Company

10.4. Bumbles Baby Food

10.5. Orchard Baby Food

10.6. Purity (Tiger Brands)

10.7. Danone

10.8. Olli

10.9. Lasenor

10.10. RIRI Children's Food Company

10.11. Humana (DMK Baby GmbH)

List of Figures

List of Tables

Abbott

Nestle S.A.

The Baby Food Company

Bumbles Baby Food

Orchard Baby Food

Purity (Tiger Brands)

Danone

Olli

Lasenor

RIRI Children's Food Company

Humana (DMK Baby GmbH)