Wordwide Demand for Specialty Milk Formulas
Euromonitor estimated the global growing up milk formula market at $20 billion in 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period 2020–2025.3 Several factors are predicted to drive the growth of growing up milks including rapid urbanization, the demand for products to meet parents’ health-related concerns, and the rise of women in the workplace.
Asia Pacific should be an especially high-growth segment, with more parents in China and India becoming more conscious of the importance of infant and toddler health. Additionally, Chinese parents also agree that that babies need to have infant milk formula until age three.4
Although growth projections are not as high in Western Europe, the growing up milks segment is still forecasted to grow 3.2% in the same time. According to a study by Mintel, 60% of French parents with children under 4 have purchased infant formula or growing up milks in the last 2 months.5
Ingredients for Brain Development in Toddlers
Among top concerns among parents for growing toddlers is brain and cognitive development. In China, more than half (53%) of Chinese parents would be encouraged to buy food/drinks that are good for their child’s intelligence development.6 In the US, 80% of baby/toddler milk launches since 2015 have contained a brain health claim.7
Two cognitive supporting ingredients on the radar of toddler milk formulators and parents alike are DHA and MFGM. The more well known, DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, has demonstrated in studies conducted in healthy children that usual intake of DHA among toddlers and children is low and it is an essential brain component affecting learning and behavior.8
The more recently emerged dairy-based brain health ingredient, MFMG, or milk fat globule membrane, is found naturally in milk and is a complex structure composed primarily of lipids and proteins that surround the milk fat globule. Studies of MFGM in children indicate supplementation is associated with higher cognitive scores,9,10 improved hand eye coordination IQ, performance IQ and general IQ.11
Our Ingredients for Growing Up Milks
Are you interested in developing or expanding a product line to tap into the toddler milk formula market? Try NeoShield™, our concentrated whey protein rich in bioactive whey components such as MFGM, phospholipids, lactoferrin and immunoglobulins targeted at supporting cognitive and immune health in toddlers and children. Also suitable for maternal health. NeoShield is the solution for immune and cognitive support during pregnancy and through childhood. Additionally you can explore other fortification options through vitamin and mineral custom nutrient premixes which can be used for growing up milks and other toddler formulations.
Get in touch to learn more about all our options in early life nutrition.
