Breakfast Cereal Market Report 2026

The breakfast cereal market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $65.62 billion in 2025 to $68.32 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growth in urban breakfast consumption, increasing demand for convenient food options, expansion of supermarket retail networks, rising popularity of western breakfast habits, improvements in cereal processing efficiency.

The breakfast cereal market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $82.83 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing preference for functional and protein-rich cereals, rising investments in clean-label cereal formulations, expansion of online grocery sales, increasing focus on sustainable packaging, growing demand for customized cereal blends. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for low-sugar and high-fiber cereals, rising adoption of advanced cereal processing technologies, growing focus on nutritional fortification, expansion of ready-to-eat breakfast options, enhanced packaging innovation for freshness.

Rising health-conscious behaviors and lifestyles are expected to drive the growth of the breakfast cereal market in the coming years. A health-conscious lifestyle emphasizes making healthier choices in diet and daily routines, and breakfast cereals are increasingly sought after for their nutritional benefits, convenience, and role in promoting health and wellness. For instance, in July 2025, according to Foodmanufacture.co.uk, a UK-based platform for the food and drink manufacturing industry, health-focused products such as functional beverages like kombucha grew 30% year-on-year, while health shots including ginger and turmeric surged 92% year-on-year for the week ending 22 February 2025. Therefore, the rising focus on health-conscious consumption is supporting breakfast cereal market growth.

Major companies in the breakfast cereal market are innovating with products like celebrity-curated cereal mix blends to enhance consumer engagement, create limited-edition demand, and revitalize interest in the category. A celebrity-curated cereal mix blend combines two or more existing cereals into a new flavor experience, co-designed or endorsed by a public figure to leverage their brand and fan base. For instance, in July 2025, General Mills, a US-based provider of ready-to-eat cereals, launched Jettas Mix in collaboration with NFL star Justin Jefferson. The cereal blends frosted lemon Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch Strawberry, featuring limited-edition packaging with the athlete’s branding. This launch illustrates the industry’s trend toward experiential, branded innovations that deliver novelty, emotional appeal, and fan engagement beyond basic nutrition.

In September 2025, Ferrero, an Italy-based confectionery company, acquired WK Kellogg Co for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition strengthens Ferrero’s presence in the North American cereal and snack market, expands its product portfolio, enhances distribution capabilities, and supports long-term growth across retail and foodservice channels. WK Kellogg Co is a US-based company specializing in breakfast cereals and snack products.

Major companies operating in the breakfast cereal market are Nestlé S.A., PepsiCo Inc., Abbott Nutrition, The Kraft Heinz Company, Associated British Foods plc, General Mills Inc., Kellanova, The Campbell Soup Company, Post Holdings Inc., The Jordans & Ryvita Company Ltd., The Oetker Group, The Quaker Oats Company, TreeHouse Foods, Calbee Inc., B&G Foods Inc., The Hain Celestial Group Inc., MOM Brands Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Cereal Partners Worldwide S.A., Grain Millers Inc., Weetabix Limited, Nature's Path Foods Inc., Back to Nature's Food Company LLC, Carman's Fine Foods, Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods Inc., Bagrrys's India Limited, Freedom Foods Group Limited, The Muesli Company Pty Limited, Nature's Best Inc., The Great Canadian Cereal Company Ltd., Attune Foods, Malt-O-Meal, Roman Meal Company.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the breakfast cereal market in 2025. North America was the second-largest region in the breakfast cereal market. The regions covered in the breakfast cereal market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the breakfast cereal market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The breakfast cereals market consists of sales of whole oats, steel-cut oats, instant oats, wheat cereal, rye cereal, barley cereal, farina cereal, granola cereal, and other breakfast cereals. The companies in the industry process raw materials into breakfast cereals, package and distribute them through various distribution channels to both individual customers and commercial establishments. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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