Plant-Based Bars Market Set to Reach USD 16.81 Billion by 2032, Driven by Rising Consumer Demand for Healthy Snacks
The Plant-Based Bars Market was valued at USD 8.06 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach USD 16.81 billion by 2032, growing at a robust CAGR of 8.51% during the forecast period of 2024-2032.
The surge in demand for nutritious and sustainable snacking options among health-conscious consumers is driving this growth. As consumers seek convenient, plant-based alternatives to traditional snack bars, manufacturers are innovating to meet evolving tastes and dietary preferences.
Growing Health Consciousness Drive Market Growth
Increasing health awareness among people is playing a crucial role in driving the plant-based bars market, as they are becoming more conscious and knowledgeable about their nutritional intake. The unprecedented demand for plant-based is mostly due to the increasingly health-conscious population who now widely prefer snacks that carry healthy credentials, with numbers as high as 78% of consumers choices when surveyed in 2023 by the International Food Information Council. This is consistent with data from the US Department of Agriculture that show sales of plant-based foods have risen by more than 30% between now and 2019. Industry leaders are reacting to this morphing consumer preference by adapting their product lineup. It considers the General Mills relatable example in 2024; they introduced a new line of snack bars with plant-based ingredients including organic and non-GMO options aimed at health-oriented consumers.
Innovation in Product Offerings
Product innovation has emerged as the key enabler in the plant-based bars market, with brands consistently launching a variety of proprietary formulations and attractive flavors to attract consumers. Per U.S. Food and Drug Administration data, new product launch announcements with distinctive plant-based ingredients have soared 35% during the last two years, showcasing a significant consumer pivot toward functional foods. These findings are backed up by research from the Nielsen Global Health & Wellness Survey, which shows that 60% of consumers gravitate towards superfood-rich offers such as chia seeds, quinoa, or any ingredients perceived as healthy. The demand from the key players is being responded to using intensive product innovations. As an example, RXBAR in 2023 debuted a new lineup of plant-based protein bars made with organic ingredients and functional superfoods for the health-conscious consumer seeking clean-label choices.
By Product: The protein-based segment leads the market, accounting for approximately 35.5% of the total share in 2023. Protein bars are currently dominating the global market in all of its types and forms among all other product segments under plant-based bars. The predominance of plant-protein based snacking epitomizes the wider trend of high-protein snacks, responding to a rising consumer-base that is health-focused, fitness-conscious or even performance athlete-led who are on the lookout for convenient solutions to help achieve daily dietary and nutritional objectives. In 2023, protein bars held a market size of around 45% depicting considerable consumer demand for products offering more protein. Government statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture back up this trend, showing that protein consumption has skyrocketed and interest in alternative sources of plant-based proteins like pea, soy and hemp is on the rise among consumers.
By Distribution Channel: The online segment is witnessing rapid growth, projected to expand at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2024 to 2032, as e-commerce continues to dominate retail trends. Physical retail, including supermarkets and health food stores, remains a strong channel, supported by consumers' desire for in-store product sampling and brand experience.
North America demonstrated the best results, accounting for around 38% of the revenue in terms of healthy snacks market share by region in 2023 due to the growing demand from consumers for healthy snacking and a high concentration of health-focused brands. As a result of consumers spending disproportionately high amounts on premium plant-based options, the U.S. market was forecast to remain in the top spot globally.
The Asia-Pacific region is also forecast to be the fastest growing, with rising urbanization leading to changing dietary patterns echoing economies in transition, supporting a growing consumer interest in health and wellness. China and India have been seeing a growing interest in plant-based products, with the industry projected to observe a considerable growth by 2020.
Europe: As consumers in Europe lean toward clean label products due to strict regulation, plant-based bars claim the second-place spot on the global market. Over the past two years, a growing consumer movement towards sustainability has translated to a 20% growth in sales of plant-based products in the region.
In September 2024, General Mills launched a new line of plant-based snack bars featuring organic ingredients aimed at meeting the growing demand for healthier options among millennials.
In July 2024, Nestlé announced a strategic partnership with a startup focused on developing innovative plant-based formulations for bars, reinforcing its commitment to expanding its portfolio in the health food sector.
Major players like General Mills and Nestlé are leading the market through innovation and strategic partnerships.
The Asia-Pacific region is poised for the highest growth, fueled by urbanization and changing consumer preferences towards plant-based diets.
As the plant-based bars market evolves, manufacturers are encouraged to focus on product innovation and sustainable practices to meet the growing demands of health-conscious consumers worldwide.
