In 2025, key themes and innovations around baby food in India centred around focus on clean labels and a growing emphasis on addressing nutrient deficiencies. The clean label movement continues to gain momentum, notably within dried baby food. Responding to rising consumer demand for healthier ingredients, Nestlé India introduced Cerelac without refined sugar in 2024, and in early 2025 launched Ceregrow - a product with similar claims. This highlights a broader industry focus on transparency and

Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, leads baby food globally and ranks third in dairy, in which it is the number one player in powder milk and coffee whiteners. The company is driving growth through nutrition and reformulation, as can be seen in its sugar and fat reduction efforts with Cerelac and Ninho Adulto, and via the roll-out of its Nan Sinergity formula, which contains probiotics and six HMOs. Enhanced functionality is a primary focus, as part of its wider strategy to m

Value sales of baby food increased in Mexico in 2025. While volume sales remained positive, growth rates have been slowing, largely due to demographic shifts in Mexican society. Couples are having fewer children and choosing to delay parenthood in order to prioritise career progression and financial stability. As a result, the country’s birth rate has been steadily declining, marking a departure from traditional family sizes and life choices of previous generations.

Despite fast growth in retail current value terms, baby food in South Africa is projected to continue to decline in retail volume sales terms over 2025, reflecting broader demographic and behavioural shifts, as well as inflationary pressure on prices. The most affected category is the largest, milk formula, which faces mounting pressure due to falling birth rates and a growing cultural and institutional emphasis on breastfeeding. In addition, regulatory restrictions, including a ban on advertisi

Danone continues to be the leading company in dairy products and alternatives globally, with a particular focus on yoghurt and milk formula. Sales continued to grow for Danone in 2025, with share losses in recent years having been influenced by the company’s withdrawal from the Russian market as well as the divestment of its premium organic dairy business in the US. Danone continues to place an emphasis on high-protein products as well as those fortified with nutrients promoting good gut health.

European dairy cooperative Arla Foods is an international company owned by more than 7,600 farmers from Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Germany and the Benelux countries. Currently the number one dairy player in Sweden, Denmark and the UK, Arla is set to expand its reach through a planned merger with DMK Group, Germany’s largest milk cooperative. Arla is also looking to acquire the dairy assets of Egypt-based Domty.

Baby food in Nigeria is expected to register double-digit percentage current value growth in 2025, though constant value and volume growth is more muted, as inflation remains high. That being said, inflation is more stable and 2025 sees a recovery from declining volume sales the previous year. However, volume growth is still expected to be muted, and with many women having lost jobs in recent years, there is subdued demand for milk formula and dried baby food, as baby food is prepared at home i

Retail sales of baby food in Morocco are expected to see only marginal growth in current value terms in 2025, largely due to unfavourable demographic trends. Low birth rates, influenced by delayed marriage and increased use of contraceptives, have reduced the number of infants, limiting overall market expansion. Additionally, growing awareness of breastfeeding as the preferred form of infant nutrition has further restrained demand.

After a period of economic slowdown in 2023 and 2024, baby food in Vietnam benefited as the economy began showing signs of recovery in early 2025. This rebound has positively influenced dairy, which is expected to record stronger retail current value sales growth over 2025, compared with 2024. Players have actively contributed to this momentum through research and development, new product launches and targeted marketing efforts. These activities have not only revitalised consumer interest, but a

Baby food in Thailand remained relatively stable in retail volume and value terms, with the slower performance from 2024 continuing throughout 2025. Milk formula, the dominant segment in terms of sales, continues to face challenges due to government-backed efforts to promote breastfeeding, combined with declining birth rates. Indeed, many middle-income families in Thailand are having fewer children, or refraining from starting families altogether. This is attributable to the expense of raising c

Historically, the Year of the Dragon would typically see a rise in births, as it is commonly believed that babies born under this zodiac sign are more likely to be fortunate, intelligent, and successful. Nevertheless, mounting economic pressures, evolving attitudes among younger generations, and high inflation have all contributed to a continued decline in the birth rate, negatively impacting retail volume sales.

Overall, sales of baby food in Singapore have seen moderate growth in current retail value and volume terms in 2025. However, retail volume sales of certain baby food categories such as follow-on milk formula and standard milk-formula have struggled in 2025, with growth primary being value driven. Despite 2024 being the auspicious Dragon year in the Chinese zodiac calendar, it had a minimal impact on the birth rate in Singapore, with the fertility rate remaining at a record low. Singapore’s fert

Value sales of baby food are achieving small positive growth in Croatia in 2025, with volume in a marginal negative decline. Therefore, this positive value performance is primarily driven by price increases rather than volume growth.

Over 2025, baby food in the Philippines is projected to register strong and slightly faster growth in retail current value sales, compared with 2024. This growth is support by inflationary pressure on prices, with retail volume sales expected to be moderate, albeit faster than in 2024. Retail volume and value sales of baby food in the Philippines are also enhanced by incumbent leading players like Nestlé Philippines and Wyeth Philippines continuing to emphasise the benefits of their products.

Germany’s persistently low birth rate continues to shape baby food in 2025 by reducing the overall size of the target consumer base. With continued low birth rates, baby food faces limited volume growth, prompting companies to shift their focus to premiumisation. As a result, brands are investing in premium, high-margin products such as organic, allergen-free, and scientifically enhanced formulas to maintain profitability. Increasing demand for high-quality and organic products has resulted in m

Value sales of baby food are rising in Hong Kong in 2025, though growth is somewhat curbed by a slowdown in product development amid ongoing economic uncertainty. The high cost of living significantly impacts baby food and milk formula, affecting both consumer behaviour and spending patterns.

Baby food is expected to see current value growth in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. The baby food category continues to face challenges in the country due to persistently low birth rates. Evolving consumer lifestyles - particularly amongst younger women—are influencing category dynamics. Rising living costs and aspirational standards are driving a shift in priorities, with many women placing greater emphasis on career advancement and financial independence. These demographic and socioeconomic

Value sales of baby food increased in New Zealand in 2025. Baby food is generally considered an essential purchase for consumers, remaining relatively unaffected by price fluctuations, which has contributed to its steady performance. Despite the challenging economic conditions faced by many New Zealanders due to inflation in food and beverage prices, baby food continues to perform well, as there are few substitutes for this category.

Baby food in Slovenia is projected to see a strong single-digit increase in retail current value sales over 2025. All categories are expected to contribute, with prepared baby food and “other” baby food set to see the highest increases. Price dynamics support strong retail current value growth, although the consumer price index data indicates modest overall inflation for baby food, despite short-term fluctuations. The upward price trend, continued premiumisation and a consumer preference for con

Falling demand combined with slower price growth has resulted in baby food seeing only moderate growth in current value terms in 2025. Milk formula remains the largest category in baby food and it has also seen the most dynamic growth, although this continues to be largely price driven as sales continue to decline in retail volume terms in 2025. Key factors behind the decline in volume sales include falling birth rates, continuing health and wellness concerns, as well as the impact of product re

With inflationary pressures steadily receding, current value growth for baby food in North Macedonia in 2025 is expected to be down moderately on the previous year. It remains robust overall, however, as thanks to improvements in purchasing power and increased price competition more households can now afford to regularly buy such products and trade up to higher-end varieties offering superior quality ingredients, added-value health benefits, more convenient packaging formats etc. For the same re

After a decline in 2024, baby food in Indonesia is showing signs of recovery in 2025, with value sales on the up. This shift is closely tied to the Indonesian government’s intensified efforts to combat stunting, a chronic malnutrition condition that hinders child development. The national stunting rate dropped from 21.5% in 2023 to 19.8% in 2024, with further reductions targeted for the coming years. These interventions focus on improving nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life - a period

Baby food is seeing robust value sales in Uzbekistan in 2025, at a higher rate than witnessed in 2024, and with volume sales also enjoying healthy and stable growth, again at a slightly elevated rate compared to the previous year.

In 2025, retail value sales of baby food in Malaysia experienced a marginal increase of 1%, reaching MYR2.8 billion, indicative of a largely saturated market facing substantial headwinds. Demographic and economic factors significantly influenced consumer demand, resulting in minimal growth. The declining birth rate, compounded by high living costs and inflation, led to a decrease in the number of children per family, directly affecting the demand for baby food. Furthermore, the prevalence of dua