Canned and Ambient Food Market Report 2026

The canned and ambient food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $250.97 billion in 2025 to $263.9 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of urban populations, growth in modern retail formats, rising consumption of preserved foods, improvements in food preservation techniques, increased penetration of canned food products.

The canned and ambient food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $330.95 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for convenient meal solutions, rising focus on clean-label ambient foods, expansion of e-commerce grocery channels, growing investments in smart food processing facilities, increasing emphasis on sustainable food packaging. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing demand for long shelf-life food products, rising adoption of sustainable packaging solutions, growing preference for ready-to-eat and convenience foods, expansion of automated food processing lines, enhanced focus on food safety and traceability.

Rising food security is anticipated to drive the growth of the canned and ambient food market in the coming years. Food safety encompasses the practices and conditions that ensure food is safe to consume, free from contamination, and does not threaten human health. Food safety plays a vital role in supporting the canned and ambient food market by enhancing consumer trust, maintaining product quality, and minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses. For example, in October 2023, according to an article published by the National Farmers' Union (NFU), a UK-based organization, Defra statistics for 2022 showed that the UK was 60% self-sufficient in overall food production. Additionally, in July 2024, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, a U.S.-based agency, 86.5% of U.S. households, representing 114.6 million households, were classified as food secure in 2023. Therefore, increasing food security is contributing to the expansion of the canned and ambient food market.

Leading companies operating in the canned and ambient food market are concentrating on the development of advanced innovations, such as dessert-inspired canned fruit varieties, to strengthen their competitive position. These offerings blend premium-quality fruit with indulgent flavors or functional ingredients, appealing to consumers seeking convenient, flavorful, and versatile snack or dessert solutions. For instance, in November 2024, Del Monte Foods Inc., a U.S.-based food company, introduced Del Monte Fruit Delights, a new line of canned fruit featuring flavors including Brown Sugar Sliced Peaches, Salted Caramel Sliced Pears, and Cinnamon Sliced Pears. These products are packed in light syrup and are intended for use in desserts, fruit salads, or as ready-to-eat snacks, delivering convenience while preserving taste.

In December 2024, Platinum Equity, a U.S.-based private equity firm with a diverse portfolio spanning manufacturing and food and beverage sectors, acquired a majority stake in F.lli Polli S.p.A. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Platinum Equity sought to utilize Polli’s long-standing heritage and production capabilities to expand its footprint beyond Europe, with a focus on growth in the U.S. and global ambient and preserved food markets. Polli is an Italy-based manufacturer of pasta sauces, preserved vegetables, olives, pickles, condiments, and other shelf-stable or ambient food products distributed across more than 50 countries.

Major companies operating in the canned and ambient food market are Nestlé S.A., The Campbell Soup Company, Unilever plc, The Kraft Heinz Company, Del Monte Pacific Limited, Bonduelle Group, Seneca Foods Corporation, La Doria S.p.A., Associated British Foods plc, Ayam Brand, B&G Foods Inc., Baxters Food Group Limited, Century Pacific Food Inc., Conagra Brands Inc., Dole Food Company, General Mills Inc., Golden Flake, The Calvo Group, Hain Celestial Group, JBS S.A., Kellogg’s Co., Thai Union Group PCL.

Western Europe was the largest region in the canned and ambient food market in 2025. North America was the second-largest region in the canned and ambient food market. The regions covered in the canned and ambient food 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 canned and ambient food 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 canned and ambient food market consists of sales of canned, pickled, and dried vegetables, fruits, and specialty foods such as canned juices, canned baby foods, canned soups (except seafood), canned dry beans, canned tomato-based sauces, such as catsup, salsa, chili sauce, spaghetti sauce, barbeque sauce, and tomato paste, pickles and relishes, jams and jellies, dried soup mixes and bouillon, sauerkraut, and other canned and ambient food. 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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