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Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Federico Irigoyen Federico Irigoyen New York, United States Last Updated: May 2024 NAICS OD4287

Revenue

$1.9bn

2024

$1.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

1,765

Businesses

14

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry analysis

As information about the importance of breastfeeding has spread recently, instant formula manufacturers have struggled to maintain growth. As a substitute for breastmilk, demand for infant formula is directly determined by the popularity of breastfeeding. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s 2020 Breastfeeding Report Card, the percentage of infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months after birth has grown to 25.6%, up from 20.6% in 2015. As a result of this boost, the demand for infant formula has been hampered. In addition, the percentage of babies who have been breastfed at any point in their lives has expanded from 80.2% in 2015 to 84.1% in 2020, according to the CDC (latest data available).

Trends and Insights

  • Instant formula manufacturers are having trouble keeping up with demand. The percentage of women who breastfeed has an immediate impact on formula, which serves as a substitute for breastmilk.
  • Infant formula manufacturers sell a range of goods to meet the requirements of infants. The formula and dietary requirements have been offered for years, including dairy-free soy and milk protein formulas.
  • The industry is highly concentrated, with few locations. The geographic distribution of infant formula manufacturers is based mainly on the distribution of the major companies.
  • The industry is moderately competitive, with four companies controlling most operations. Companies in this industry fight based on price, product types and brand.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry is highly concentrated

  • Infant formula manufacturing is a highly concentrated sector because of its small size, dipping demand and high entry barriers. The top four businesses—Abbot Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Perrigo Company and Nestle—will collectively generate most infant formula manufacturers' income.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Efforts to emphasize the benefits of breastfeeding will continue

  • The proportion of infants who are solely breastfed at three and six months has surpassed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's targets. The CDC and pediatric health organizations will probably continue highlighting the advantages of breastfeeding even though these initiatives will probably have to deal with diminishing marginal returns over the outlook period.

Biggest companies in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Abbott Laboratories
1,143.5
206.3
18.0
Mead Johnson
421.3
110.4
26.2
Perrigo Company PLC
244.2
15.7
6.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Powdered formula, Concentrated liquid formula and Ready-to-feed formula. Powdered formula is the largest segment of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US.

Trends and Insights

Powder formula is the most commonly used variety of infant formula

  • Ingredients are combined to create the powder, which is then concentrated in an extractor. Before feeding, combine water and powdered formula.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Infant formula manufacturers make infant formula, a powdered substitute for breast feeding that consumers use to support adequate growth of infants.

What's included in this industry?

Manufacturing powder infant formulaManufacturing concentrated liquid formulaManufacturing ready-to-feed infant formulaManufacturing nondairy infant formula

Companies

Abbott LaboratoriesMead JohnsonPerrigo Company PLC

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

READY-TO-EAT FORMULAFORMULA FEEDINGBREAST PUMPINGEVAPORATOR

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 31151 - Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Instant formula manufacturers are having trouble keeping up with demand. The percentage of women who breastfeed has an immediate impact on formula, which serves as a substitu...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Infant formula manufacturers sell a range of goods to meet the requirements of infants. The formula and dietary requirements have been offered for years, including dairy-free...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly concentrated, with few locations. The geographic distribution of infant formula manufacturers is based mainly on the distribution of the major companie...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The industry is moderately competitive, with four companies controlling most operations. Companies in this industry fight based on price, product types and brand.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Several major corporations control the industry. These businesses spend significantly in R&D to create fresh, cutting-edge infant formula products and have strong market powe...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Abbott Laboratories's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Mead Johnson's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Perrigo Company PLC's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Abbott Laboratories, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Mead Johnson, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Perrigo Company PLC, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry is subject to strict regulation. Although food items are already subject to high safety standards, infants are more susceptible to illnesses if their food is uns...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The industry involves a lot of purchases. The price of milk and other commodities significantly impacts the cost of purchases and the typical industry profit margin.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is $1.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in 2024?

There are 14 businesses in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Infant Formula Manufacturing market in United States are Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson and Perrigo Company PLC

What does the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US in United States include?

Manufacturing powder infant formula and Manufacturing concentrated liquid formula are part of the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Abbott Laboratories.

How competitive is the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Infant Formula Manufacturing in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Dairy Product Production in the US
  • Brand Name Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in the US
  • Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in the US
  • Children's & Infants' Clothing Stores in the US

International industries

  • Global Milk & Cream Manufacturing
  • Dairy Product Production in Canada
  • Dairy Product Production in Mexico

View all industries in United States

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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