Women’s workforce participation boosts packaged baby food demand in APAC

It is also driven by the rising per capita incomes and the need for convenience.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is seeing a surge in demand for packaged baby food, driven by increasing female workforce participation and the hectic schedules of dual-income households, GlobalData reported.

The report said that the rising per capita incomes and the need for convenience are fuelling the demand for baby formula, ready-to-eat finger foods, and other baby care products.

Mohammed Masiuddin Shajie, lead consumer analyst at GlobalData, said that the female labor force in the APAC region has been steadily increasing. 

According to World Bank data, South Korea's female labor force participation rose from 42.1% in 2018 to 43.5% in 2023, whilst Japan's increased from 44.1% to 45.1% in the same period. Similar trends are observed in Singapore and Malaysia.

Deepak Nautiyal, Consumer and Retail Commercial Director for APAC and the Middle East at GlobalData, explained that busy lifestyles are pushing parents toward convenient baby food options like formula milk and ready-to-eat products.

The baby food sector in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia is also expected to grow at a higher compound annual growth rate (CAGR) than the regional average from 2023 to 2028, according to Shajie.

According to a GlobalData consumer survey from Q2 2024 found that 13% of respondents are switching to cheaper alternatives within the same brand, whilst 18% are opting for more affordable brands to reduce spending on baby care products. Additionally, 13% reported using store-brand products to save money.

“The increasing participation of women in the workforce, coupled with the growing demand for convenient baby food options, presents a substantial growth opportunity for the baby food industry in APAC,” said Nautiyal.

“However, to remain competitive amidst economic pressures, manufacturers must adapt to changing consumer preferences by offering value-driven products that cater to evolving price sensitivities,” he added.