Breakfast Cereals Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

Breakfast Cereals Market is segmented by Type (Ready-to-cook Cereals and Ready-to-eat Cereals); By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online Retailers, and Others); and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Middle East and Africa). The report offers market size and forecasts in value (USD million) for the above segments.

Global Breakfast Cereals Market Snapshot

Breakfast Cereals Market  Snapshot
Study Period: 2016 - 2026
Base Year: 2020
Fastest Growing Market: Asia Pacific
Largest Market: North America
CAGR: 4.78 %


Market Overview

Global Breakfast Cereals Market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.78% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

The situation of the Covid-19 pandemic had prompted a shift from eating out to cooking at home as consumers seek healthier, safe, and convenient food options. With this trend expected to continue post pandemic, manufacturers operating in this business are rolling out private label products which consumers find themselves in a convenient environment to shop and cook, with added safety of pre-packaged ingredients. The pandemic has changed the way consumers plan their meals, where new offerings are giving people the flexibility to shop conveniently and create healthy meals in a similar fashion to scratch cooking. On the other hand, the consciousness have increased among consumers and brands with help of retailers are vying on maintaining the highest safety standard with quality and sustainability as a major concern.

With the growing demand from conscious consumers for supermarkets to provide a broader variety of food products to cater to specific preferences, such as natural ingredients to organic and free-from products, brands operating in this segment are continuing to expand its offering to include more innovative products that promote sustainable and healthy eating.

COVID-19 has also resulted in the generation of opportunities for many private players to emerge in the markets to cater to the inflated demand. Also, the demand for innovated breakfast products is growing in the country among urban population since such meals are a quick and convenient source of nutrition and energy.

The growth of the market is mainly witnessed due to the changing food habits and influence of western culture on the dietary patterns of consumers, as it provides a convenience solution to readily accessible food that optimize the ease of consumption without further preparation. Also, consumers preference towards nutritious and healthy food on regular basis is driving the market. Also, the robust growth of convenience stores that promotes brand visibility is driving the growth of breakfast cereals market.

Geographically, the North America market, led by the United States, holds the majority of the global breakfast cereal market demand, followed by Europe. Asia-Pacific is predicted to grow at an accelerating rate over the forecast period due to increased preference of China and India for hot cereals containing rice or wheat as major ingredients. However, the market is stagnated due to the consumers equal inclination towards traditional breakfast foods, which is therefor restraining the growth of the market.

Scope of the Report

Breakfast cereal is a food made from processed grains that are often eaten with the first meal of the day. It is primarily consumed as a breakfast mostly in western societies. The global breakfast cereal market has been segmented by type, and distribution channel and geography. The market by type includes ready-to-cook breakfast cereals and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. By distribution channel, the market is segmented into supermarket/hypermarket, convenience stores, online retailers, and others, and by geography which includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East and Africa. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of value (in USD million).

By Type
Ready-to-cook Cereals
Ready-to-eat Cereals
By Distribution Channel
Convenience Stores
Online Retailers
North America
United States
Rest of North America
United Kingdom
Rest of Europe
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America
Rest of South America
Middle East & Africa
South Africa
Saudi Arabia
Rest of Middle East & Africa

Report scope can be customized per your requirements. Click here.

Key Market Trends

Increasing Demand for Ready-to-Eat Breakfast Cereals

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals dominate the whole market owing to the convenience solution it offers to the consumers. The market is mostly driven by consumers having busy lifestyle as these are the processed grain formulations suitable for consumption without further cooking. Whole grain-based ready-to-eat cereals are leading the market owing to the value-addition in terms of micronutrients in these products. Also, the leading companies are trying to blend organic and healthy ingredients in order to boost the sales of breakfast cereals. Also, the manufacturers are also utilizing traditionally grown cereal grains such as quinoa to create innovation in breakfast cereal products. For instance, Quinoa Crack offers quinoa-based gluten-free, super snacking solution.

Global Breakfast Cereal Market trend1

To understand key trends, Download Sample Report

Asia-Pacific is the Fastest Growing Region

In the Asia-Pacific region, China dominates the market contributing the maximum market share, followed by Japan and Australia. This is due to the change in breakfast cereals consumption pattern and inclination towards healthier products. Also, increased adoption of the western lifestyle has paired the driving factors of the market sales. Product development of low carb, high fibre, multigrain and fortified Breakfast Cereals that appeal to health-conscious consumers have triggered the market growth. For instance, in November 2018, Kellogs launched a new cereal “HI! Happy Inside” that consists of fibres, prebiotics and probiotics and is specially designed to support digestive wellness. Expanding retail distribution channel is another factor expanding sales in rural and relatively small cities.

Global Breakfast Cereals Market trend2

To understand geography trends, Download Sample Report

Competitive Landscape

The breakfast cereals market is competitive in nature having a large number of domestic and global player competing for market share. Some of the major key players in the market include The Kellogg Company, Attune Foods, General Mills, Dr. Oetker, Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, and others. The key market players are significantly investing in the research and development activities in the breakfast cereals market to introduce new and innovative variants to meet the emerging consumer demand for healthy and clean label foods products.

Recent Developments

In August 2020, Mondelez India had entered in the breakfast cereals space with the launch of Bournvita Fills. With this new launch company further expanded its product portfolio in the region.

In September 2020, Kellogg’s, in partnership with Blippar, launched the first web-based Augmented Reality promotional campaign in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Kellogg becomes the first brand in the GCC region to pioneer WebAR technology across a multi-channel marketing campaign for its Coco Pops cereal brand.

In May 2018, Nestle India launched breakfast cereals in India in line with its vision to introduce products rooted in nutrition and health. The consumer need for breakfast choices is growing and companies need to bring more options to satisfy this need.

Table of Contents


    1. 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition

    2. 1.2 Scope of the Study




    1. 4.1 Market Drivers

    2. 4.2 Market Restraints

    3. 4.3 Porter's Five Force Analysis

      1. 4.3.1 Threat of New Entrants

      2. 4.3.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

      3. 4.3.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

      4. 4.3.4 Threat of Substitute Products

      5. 4.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry


    1. 5.1 By Type

      1. 5.1.1 Ready-to-cook Cereals

      2. 5.1.2 Ready-to-eat Cereals

    2. 5.2 By Distribution Channel

      1. 5.2.1 Supermarkets/Hypermarkets

      2. 5.2.2 Convenience Stores

      3. 5.2.3 Online Retailers

      4. 5.2.4 Others

    3. 5.3 Geography

      1. 5.3.1 North America

        1. United States

        2. Canada

        3. Mexico

        4. Rest of North America

      2. 5.3.2 Europe

        1. Germany

        2. United Kingdom

        3. France

        4. Spain

        5. Italy

        6. Russia

        7. Rest of Europe

      3. 5.3.3 Asia-Pacific

        1. China

        2. Japan

        3. India

        4. Australia

        5. Rest of Asia-Pacific

      4. 5.3.4 South America

        1. Brazil

        2. Argentina

        3. Rest of South America

      5. 5.3.5 Middle East & Africa

        1. South Africa

        2. Saudi Arabia

        3. Rest of Middle East & Africa


    1. 6.1 Most Active Companies

    2. 6.2 Most Adopted Strategies

    3. 6.3 Market Share Analysis

    4. 6.4 Company Profiles

      1. 6.4.1 Attune Foods, LLC

      2. 6.4.2 General Mills, Inc

      3. 6.4.3 Dr. Oetker

      4. 6.4.4 Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods

      5. 6.4.5 Back to Nature's Food Company, LLC

      6. 6.4.6 Carman's Fine Foods

      7. 6.4.7 Food for Life Baking Co. Inc.

      8. 6.4.8 Freedom Foods Group

      9. 6.4.9 Post Foods

      10. 6.4.10 The Kellogg Company

      11. 6.4.11 Migros

      12. 6.4.12 Nestle S.A.

    5. *List Not Exhaustive


**Subject to Availability


Frequently Asked Questions

The Breakfast Cereals Market market is studied from 2016 - 2026.

The Breakfast Cereals Market is growing at a CAGR of 4.78% over the next 5 years.


North America holds highest share in 2020.

General Mills Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., Attune Foods, Marico Limited, Kellogg Company are the major companies operating in Breakfast Cereals Market.


Please enter a valid email id!

Please enter a valid message!