Kefir is a fermented, cultured beverage that tastes like a yogurt drink but is entirely different as compared to it. It’s produced using “starter” grains, just like sourdough bread has a “starter.” This starter is a combination of milk proteins, yeasts, and bacteria. It has a creamy flavor, tart, and possesses probiotic health benefits. Kefir is widely accessible in almost all parts of the world. It can be found in various forms in most grocery stores near the dairy or yogurt. It’s often consumed to improve digestion. Kefir is nutrient-dense, containing plenty of protein, vitamins B and D, potassium, and calcium. Calcium helps to enhance the strength of the bones, whereas protein builds strong muscles, and potassium is essential for heart health.
The Europe region accounted for the largest share in the global kefir market. The largest market share of the Europe region is primarily attributed to large consumer base present in the region and high awareness about the benefits of kefir among the users. Fermented milk originates from the Near East and subsequently became popular in Eastern and Central Europe. Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt that is made from kefir grains, a specific type of mesophilic symbiotic culture. The drink originated in the North Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Russia, where it is prepared by inoculating cow, goat, or sheep milk with kefir grains. Unlike yogurt, it is drinkable, and the kefir grains used to culture the milk contains a wider variety of starter culture microorganism. The key players operating in the Europe kefir market are Biotiful Dairy Ltd, Hain Celestial, and Lifeway Foods, Inc., among others.
Kefir, a mixture of milk and fermented kefir grains, is considered as an excellent source of probiotics. It contains high concentrations of vitamins and minerals and is also one of the major sources of protein. It is also a good source of vitamin K, calcium, vitamin B12, biotin, enzymes, vitamin B9, and other nutritive contents necessary for proper body functioning. It contains adequate amounts of bacteria, which aid in proper functioning of digestive system. Kefir helps in stimulating the immune system and lowering the cholesterol levels. It also helps in controlling the level of blood sugar and reduction of body weight. Due to its health benefits, kefir is increasingly being used in the dairy, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements industry.
The fermentation process helps enhance the healthy benefits of food, mainly due to its varied range of probiotics and increased bioavailability. The health benefits of Kefir include improved gut health, bone health, skin health, and others. It also possesses antifungal and antibacterial properties, which aid in battling food borne pathogens as well as in treating and preventing vaginal and gastroenteritis infections. It also has anticarcinogenic properties, which help in preventing the progression of early-stage tumors.
Based on type, the kefir market is bifurcated into greek-style kefir, low-fat kefir, frozen kefir, organic kefir and others. In 2018, the greek-style kefir segment led the kefir market. Kefir is unsweetened and is made with whole milk. Kefir is a tart and tangy cultured dairy drink with approximately 12 probiotic cultures such as Lactobacillus Lactis, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus and Streptococcus Diacetylactis among others that have been popular in Eastern Europe for more than 2000 years now. Greek-style kefir is gluten-free, which is up to 99% lactose-free and is made with all-natural, non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms) ingredients. There has been an upsurge for the demand of Greek-style kefir as it is rich in protein and calcium. The Greek-style kefir has been gaining attraction all over the globe due to its unique taste and the various health benefits associated with it. The Greek-style kefir has also been noted to be rich in vitamins such as vitamin D3 and vitamin A.
Based on material, the kefir market is segmented into water, milk and coconut. The milk segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018. Kefir is a fermented, cultured milk drink, which is similar to yogurt – but a drink with a sour taste. This is due to carbon dioxide, which is the end product of the fermentation process. The length of the fermentation time affects the taste. Kefir is rich in probiotic bacteria and is a good source of calcium. The method of kefir production is one of the main differences between kefir and yogurt. Traditional milk kefir uses kefir grains and whole cow’s milk, goat’s milk, sheep’s milk or coconut milk, as well as from soy and rice milk alternatives. Kefir grains are not grains but are small gelatinous beads that look like grains that contain a variety of bacteria and yeasts. The grains are placed in a glass bowl followed by soaking it in milk, covered and left at room temperature for a minimum of 24 hours. This enables the yeast and bacteria to ferment the lactose that is natural sugar in milk into lactic acid, activating the bacteria to grow and proliferate. After 24 hours at room temperature, the grains are strained from the kefir and then transferred to a fresh batch of milk and are used again that enables them to keep reproducing and the strained kefir is ready to drink. The milk kefir has been gaining increasing importance due to the rich nutritional profile of the milk blended with kefir.
Based on distribution channel, the kefir market is segmented into hypermarkets and supermarkets, convenience stores and retail stores, and online. The convenience stores segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018. Convenience stores are the stores that are located in a limited area and is small in size as compared to hypermarkets & supermarkets. The main difference between a convenience store and a hypermarket or a supermarket is that the convenience stores are open till late at night. This adds an added bonus for the sales of a product, in this case, kefir. The longer working hour’s availability of the convenience stores is beneficial for the consumers who work late and are picking up things in a haste.
A retail store is a hub of business that is usually owned and operated by a retailer but also sometimes owned and operated by a manufacturer or by someone other than a retailer in which the merchandise is sold primarily to ultimate consumers. Retail involves the sale of the merchandise from a single point of purchase delivered directly to a customer intending to use that product. The retail store sales of kefir have been favoring to meet the increasing demands of kefir all over the globe.
The regional trends and factors influencing the Kefir Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Kefir Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2018 | US$ 1.37 Billion |
| Market Size by 2027 | US$ 2.26 Billion |
| Global CAGR (2018 - 2027) | 5.8% |
| Historical Data | 2016-2017 |
| Forecast period | 2019-2027 |
| Segments Covered |
By Type
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Kefir Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Kefir Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
A few players operating in the kefir market are Bakoma Sp. z o. o., Best of Farms LLC, Biotiful Dairy Ltd, Danone S.A., Hain Celestial, Krasnystaw OSM, Les produits de marque Liberté inc., Lifeway Foods, Inc., Nestle S.A., and Valio among others among many others. The key companies implement the mergers and acquisitions, and research and development strategies to expand customer base and gain significant share in the global market, which also allows them to maintain their brand name globally.
The List of Companies