Ageing consumers - opportunities for the food industry

Exploring our ageing population and how that carries numerous implications for the global food industry, as this increasingly affluent demographic group becomes more inclined to seek out products that promote health and longevity, as well as helping them to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle past middle age. Levels of new product activity in this area will also be reviewed in the presentation.

• Ageing/older consumers (i.e. those reaching and moving beyond middle age) represent a key target group for the global food industry over the coming years.
• These people are increasingly seeking out foods promoting healthy and active lifestyles, since they are at a heightened risk from conditions such as CHD, dementia and osteoporosis.
• Ingredients linked with improved health for ageing consumers (e.g. omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibre, calcium, probiotics, CoQ10 and collagen) continue to appear in greater numbers
• Competition from dietary supplements remains strong in some industry sectors
• Many of the leaders within the global functional foods industry are now launching products targeted at older consumers (e.g. Actimel 50+ from Danone)