Soluble Fibers to Grow Market Share

Fiber ingredients will see rising sales as more food and beverage companies seek to launch fiber-fortified products, says market researcher Packaged Facts. Rises are expected for all types of fiber, including soluble, insoluble, and digestive-resistant forms.

Packaged Facts... publisher Don Montuori says that fiber sales are set to increase 'indefinitely, as the market for fiber-enhanced foods is still in its infancy. There is a great deal of room across almost all food categories, which presents an opportunity for the many different fiber ingredients.'

Novel fibers, or 'invisible fibers,' are of extreme interest because of their versatility in formulation. As a result, Packaged Facts predicts market share to shift to soluble fibers and away from conventional insoluble fibers.

The market researcher predicts that as food manufacturers move to increase the soluble fiber content of foods, novel fibers will increase their market share by more than 750%, achieving a total of 39% market share by 2014. By contrast, insoluble fibers, which in 2004 accounted for 91% of all fiber food ingredient sales, will decrease by 41% by 2014, it says.