Understanding Consumer Trends and Drivers of Behavior in the UK Dairy Food Market

Synopsis
This report provides an overview of the UK Dairy Food market, analyzing market data, demographic consumption patterns within the category, and the key consumer trends driving consumption. The report highlights innovative new product development for effectively targeting the most pertinent consumer need states and offers strategic recommendations to capitalize on the evolving consumer landscape.
Scope
Key consumer demographic groups driving consumption within the UK market are identified. The figures showcase the number of Dairy occasions attributed to specific age groups and gender, as well as identifying whether these demographic groups "over" consume in the category (i.e. they account for a higher proportion of occasions than the proportion of society they represent overall).

Market value and volumes over the period 2007–2017 for the UK and nine other countries across the globe. The UK figures are also broken down into category level to cover volume growth of Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Butter & Spreadable Fats, Puddings/Desserts, and Cream.

The report quantifies the degree of influence that the 20 key consumer trends identified by Canadean have on Dairy consumption volumes, with granular analysis on the extent that degree of influences varies between gender and age group.

The report provides insight to highlight the "so what?" implications behind the data, and analysis of how the need states of consumers within the Dairy category will evolve in the short-to-medium term.

Examples of international and UK-specific product innovation targeting key consumer needs.
Summary
Why was the report written?
This report gives an overview of the key demographic groups driving consumption in the UK Dairy market, and what their motivations are for doing so. The report adopts a unique method of quantifying consumer trends to highlight the degree of influence they have on consumption within the category. This enables the reader to identify the most important trends within the market and also determine whether beliefs over what influences consumer behavior within the category are accurate.

What is the current market landscape and what is changing?
The maturity of the UK Dairy Food market has caused it to witness static growth in value sales over 2007–2012. This growth rate is set to accelerate over 2012–2017, indicating greater volume consumption in the category compared to previous years due to a growing older population. However, the consumption of value added Dairy products is growing faster as consumers search for additional benefits in Dairy products, such as fortified and nutrient enriched offerings.

What are the key drivers behind recent market changes?
Meeting age-specific needs and a search for Better Value for Money are key factors driving change within the UK Dairy market. Consumers look to Dairy products as a key method of meeting age-specific needs, such as calcium to help children’s growing bones, or probiotics to help with older consumers’ digestion. Consumers also seek products that allow them to meet their individual diet needs, both those derived from medical requirements and from personal choice.

What makes this report unique and essential to read?
This report brings together consumer analysis and market data to provide actionable insight into the behavior of UK Dairy consumers. This is based on Canadean’s unique consumer data, developed from extensive consumption surveys and consumer group tracking, which quantifies the influence of 20 consumption motivations in the Dairy sector. This allows product and marketing strategies to be better aligned with the leading trends in the market.
Reasons To Buy
Busier lifestyles and skipping meals will drive demand for smaller on-the-go packaging and impulse purchases, for example drinkable breakfast yogurts.

Some consumers are avoiding products containing lactose – a sugar found in Milk and Milk products – for digestive reasons.

Dairy products’ consumption is high among older consumers, and this consumer group will only grow in size. This age group already accounts for almost a third of Dairy occasions.

Rising competition from Dairy substitutes made from soy will challenge Milk sales, as an increasing number of consumers create personalized nutritional diet plans.

Rising Dairy prices mean that value-seeking consumers may moderate their consumption. Value for Money is the second most important motivator out of the 20 tracked by Canadean.