The ethnic food market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The market size for ethnic food has seen rapid expansion in recent years. Projected growth forecasts a jump from $57.62 billion in 2024 to $63.42 billion in 2025, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%.
The factors contributing to this growth during the historical period include cultural diversity due to migration, changes in urbanization and lifestyle, influence of social media and current food trends, the presence of ethnic food in restaurants and street food culture, increased awareness about health and wellness, and wider exposure to culinary education.
The ethnic food market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• Anticipations are high for the ethnic food market size as it is set to experience accelerated expansion in the coming years. It is projected to surge to $97.34 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3%.
Factors such as culinary innovation and fusion, health-focused ethnic choices, the rise of e-commerce and meal kits, sustainability and the use of locally sourced ingredients, and authenticity coupled with cultural representation are all believed to contribute to the growth in the forecast period. Notable trends anticipated within this period include digitalization in food industries and food discovery, authenticity supplemented with regional diversity, offerings for plant-based and vegetarian consumers, online food delivery and takeout services as well as fusion cuisine.
The expansion of the ethnic food market is primarily fueled by rising immigration rates. Multiple factors such as job prospects, environmental reasons, education, family reunification, or evasion of violent disputes fuel immigration. Migrants often crave their native foods, leading to a spike in demand for ethnic cuisine. The American Community Survey (ACS), a yearly demographic analysis by the United States Census Bureau, underlines this point, showing a 3.6% increase in immigrants in the United States between 2022 and 2023. Thus, the upward trend in immigration rates is anticipated to propel the growth of the ethnic food market.
The ethnic food market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Food Type: Veg, Non-Veg
2) By Culture: American, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, Other Cultures
3) By Distribution: Super markets Or Hyper markets, Convenience Stores, Online Retail Channels, Other Distribution Channels
4) By Application: Restaurant, Household
Subsegments:
1) By Veg: Vegetarian Meals, Plant-Based Dishes, Ethnic Vegetarian Snacks
2) By Non-Veg: Meat-Based Dishes, Poultry Dishes, Seafood Options
One prominent trend emerging in the ethnic food market is the focus on business expansion. This expansion employs various strategies such as the launch of new products, tapping into new markets, deep market penetration, diversification, among others. A significant number of major players in the ethnic food market are intensifying their business expansion efforts through new product development to increase business prospects, enhance their revenue and strengthen their position in the market. A case in point is the official launch of Truly Indian, a brand committed to marketing authentic Indian food items, in the U.S. in March 2024 at the Natural Products Expo West 2024. This expo is renowned for being a leading trade show for natural and organic products, offering emerging brands a chance to display their products. The launch aims to expose U.S. consumers to top-tier Indian food, underscoring the brand's dedication to authenticity and cultural heritage.
Major companies operating in the ethnic food market include:
• Nestlé S.A.
• Associated British Foods plc
• General Mills Inc.
• Taco Bell Corp.
• Conagra Brands Inc.
• Ajinomoto Co. Inc.
• ITC Limited
• McCormick & Company Incorporated
• MTR Foods Pvt Ltd
• Kikkoman Corporation
• House Foods Group Inc.
• Aryzta AG
• B&G Foods Holdings Corp.
• Haldiram Manufacturing Co. Pvt. Ltd.
• Goya Foods Inc.
• GraceKennedy Group
• S&B Foods Inc.
• Amy's Kitchen Inc.
• Santa Maria AB
• East End Foods plc
• Surya Foods Ltd.
• Leathams Limited
• Kawan Food Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
• Tasty Bite Eatables Ltd.
• Tilda Limited
• TRS Foods Ltd.
• Natco Foods Ltd.
• Wanis International Foods Limited
• Frontera Foods Inc.
• Asli Fine Foods Limited
Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the ethnic food market in 2024. The regions covered in the ethnic food market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.