Thanks to the collaboration started in 2017 with ICE-Italian Trade Agency, Exmedia Srl – a company of the Italian Exhibition Group which organizes Gluten Free Expo and Lactose Free Expo – continues the presentation of its market notes with the focus on the free-from Spanish market. According to AECOC (Asociación de Fabricantes y Distribuidores, Manufacturers’ and distributors’ association), the volume of consumption of lactose-free milk is around 7.8% of the total milk market: turnover is around 164 million euro and in recent years it has grown by more than 20%, regardless of the market price which is normally around 30-50% higher than its conventional equivalent. Plant-based drinks such as almond, soy, rice, coconut, and oat also show a strong growth. As regards gluten-free products, consumption has increased by 75% also thanks to the increase in the number of non-intolerant people who nevertheless choose to consume gluten-free products as they are considered healthier. In fact, 64% of total consumers buy gluten free products and complete their basket with wholemeal, light, functional or organic products even though they do not have any kind of allergy or intolerance.
Free-from at Rimini trade show
Gluten-free is a growing sector in food distribution, increasing year after year, reaching a sales volume of 176.2 million euros in the retail channel in 2016. In the coming months, Exmedia Srl will continue to publish the insights on foreign markets that confirm Gluten Free Expo and Lactose Free Expo as the only reference points for the free-from market. The date to mark on the agenda is from 17 to 20 November 2018 at Rimini Exhibition Centre.
