In 2025, consumers continue to vote with their wallets when purchasing food. Producers face tough headwinds in the form of continued difficulty growing volume sales, population decline and the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs. There are pathways to growth, however, with health and wellness demand driving willingness to spend more. This report offers a global overview of the staple foods industry, highlighting major trends, regional shifts, category analysis and key developments.
Delivery
This report comes in PPT.
Key findings
Retail sales increase in 2025 as rising prices persist
In 2025, staple foods retail sales value increased by 4.1% year-on-year in current terms to USD1.2 trillion. However, as with 2024, the overall story was of value over volume, with the latter rising by 1.7%. The impact of inflation is clear from the constant terms value increase of just 1.2%. The continuing rise in food prices is driving overall value growth.
Affordability casts a long shadow as producers face difficult headwinds
Affordability remains a key priority for consumers, with staple food producers also having to contend with increasing concern from consumers over ultra-processed food and a decline in willingness to cook. Forecasts are also being hit by reduced demand due to population stagnation/decline and growing use of GLP-1 drugs.
Private label continues to gain sales in 2025
No one company holds a large value share of the staple foods industry, because the categories covered are so diverse: it is a highly fragmented share landscape. Across the top 10 companies, value shares have been trending downwards; food prices are perceived to be high in key markets and consumers are still increasing private label purchases (up to 16% of the total in 2025).
Staples with sustainability claims are growing across two key categories
Across two of the five staple foods categories – rice, pasta and noodles and processed meat and seafood – foods with sustainability claims have seen sales outpace the wider market. Processed meat and seafood shows the most notable difference, with consumers increasingly aware that livestock (particularly beef) has a significant impact on the environment.
Warehouse clubs and discounters continue their success
Across the 5-year period to 2025, warehouse clubs has become the top performer in terms of historic CAGR, overtaking retail e-commerce for the first time. This price-led shift is also reflected in the performance of discounters; now having over half the channel size of third-placed hypermarkets and a historic CAGR ahead of supermarkets and small local grocers.
Our expert’s view of staple foods in 2025
Staple foods snapshot
Key findings
Health positioning is key as volume growth becomes ever harder
Top five trends in staple foods
Top five trends uncovered
Drivers of consumer markets and impact on staple foods
Adjacent industries and how they impact staple foods
Value over volume once again in 2025
High spenders sit in Western Europe
Baked goods continues category leadership
Health demand and UPF avoidance drive willingness to spend more
Top companies in staple foods
Price rises drive growth
No sign of private label losing popularity
Challenges breed launches in cereals; substitutes’ split continues
Sustainability claims see many staple food sales surge
Low-cost channels continue to drive forward
Walmart keeps US staples e-commerce strong through strong(est) growth
Processed meat prices push up spend per capita across the forecast
Forecast shows US leading as Brazil, India and Indonesia accelerate
Asia Pacific forecast to take top spot by region
Forecast shows that GDP remains key as the population factor slows
Prices continue to dampen potential
Staples are core foods; however, population falls and climate change loom large
Opportunities for growth
Our expert’s view of staple foods to 2030
Staple Foods
NOTE: Couscous, polenta and quinoa are excluded from staple foods.
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