Many consumers are looking to reduce their consumption of meat and animal products as part of a “plant-based” diet. These consumers are not only driven by the desire to improve their own health, they are often leery of the industrial food system, concerned about animal welfare, and worried about the threat of climate change.

Sales of major beverage categories are expected to grow from $150 billion to more than $160 billion by the end of 2020, according to a new report titled U.S. Beverage Market Outlook 2020: Grocery Shopping & Personal Consumption in the Coronavirus Era by Packaged Facts, a leading market research firm and division of MarketResearch.com.

In recent years, the wellness industry has gained widespread popularity for promoting a broad array of products and services related to nutrition, fitness, sleep, yoga, natural remedies, meditation, and self-care.

Nearly 72% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But what percentage of overweight or obese adults are actively dieting? And what are the motivations driving this behavior? Do age groups differ in their dietary concerns?

The total U.S. weight loss market hit a new peak in 2019, growing to $78 billion. However, that growth came to a halt when the Coronavirus hit in March, shutting the doors of weight loss centers, doctors’ offices, clinics, and other businesses for 8-10 weeks. As a result, the value of the market is forecast to decline by 9% this year.

The total U.S. weight loss market is worth more than $72 billion, comprised of eight market segments: diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, health clubs, low-calorie diet entrees, meal replacement shakes and bars sold retail, commercial weight loss programs, medical programs (by MDs, hospitals and clinics, including surgery), and diet books. 

The restaurant industry includes both fast-food chains, which offer limited service, and full-service establishments with sit-down table service. This includes burger joints like McDonald’s, coffee houses and bakeries like Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Panera, as well as pizza places and other chains serving up international culinary favorites like Tex-Mex, Mexican, and Asian foods.

In 2018, Amazon’s global net sales reached $233 billion, and its impressive growth continues to rattle the retail industry.

Amazon is on a path to become the largest retailer in the U.S. — and is expected to overtake Walmart by 2022, according to data from a recent market research report by Packaged Facts titled Amazon Strategies and the Amazon Shopper, 2^nd Edition. Amazon’s U.S. gross merchandise sales will contribute nearly half of U.S. e-commerce sales by 2022, up from 43% in 2019 and 28% in 2015.

The global breakfast cereal market is expected to grow 3% per year to reach $40 billion in 2023, according to new research and analysis from Packaged Facts, a leading market research firm and division of MarketResearch.com.

Breakfast cereal is a highly penetrated category in mature markets such as the U.S., but there is plenty of room for growth, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Mideast, as Western diets become more common across the world.

The U.S. beverage industry is competitive with many large, mature categories. Finding new growth opportunities is a key concern for beverage companies large and small.