European Sports Nutrition Market Growing Faster than North American

07/08/07 The European sports nutrition market is growing at a faster rate than the North American, and market value increases are attractive for the sports nutrition as well as the ingredient industry. The European sports nutrition market will grow beyond EUR 4 billion in 2010, according to a new report on the sports nutrition market published by 3A Business Consulting.

This is a prosperous business segment moving from consumer groups of professional athletes to recreational exercisers and life style users, according to the report. The market sees growth rates beyond other foods and beverages and clearly demonstrates how products following the trends of healthy lifestyle, exercise and nutrition, are combined in this area. Convenience and portability are also inherent characteristics of this product category.

After the initial development of sports nutrition products by specialist companies, the large food and beverage players have now taken the lead in the sports nutrition business. Their recent expansions in product varieties, broader distribution channels combined with intensified consumer marketing will further fuel market growth. Approximately 75% of the sport nutrition market value is comprised of ready-to-drink sport drinks and sport nutrition bars, and the big players are Coca-Cola, Smith Kline Beecham, Nestle, and PepsiCo. All these companies are actively introducing new products.

“We also believe that new functional and nutritional quality proteins, carbohydrates that regulate blood sugar levels, as well as a craving of naturalness in all foods and drinks will give the sports nutrition sector a very high business potential”, says partner Karin E. Nielsen.

The European market for carbohydrates and sweeteners in sports nutrition is estimated to a value of 76 million EUR growing to approximately 96 million in 2010, with highest growth rates seen on complex carbohydrates and special blends. The total market on protein ingredients for sports nutrition in 2007 is estimated to represent a volume of approximately 17,000 tonnes and growing to approximately 20,000 tonnes in 2010.