Dried Food Market Report 2026

The dried food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $30.66 billion in 2025 to $32.51 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising demand for long shelf-life foods, expansion of traditional preservation methods, growth in rural food preservation practices, increasing urbanization and packaged food consumption, development of basic food processing infrastructure.

The dried food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $41.51 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for nutrient-dense convenience foods, growth in premium dried food segments, expansion of e-commerce food distribution, innovation in advanced drying technologies, rising demand for emergency preparedness foods. Major trends in the forecast period include Increasing demand for shelf-stable and convenience-oriented food products, Growth of freeze-dried and premium dried food categories, Rising preference for organic and clean-label dehydrated foods, Expansion of online retail and direct-to-consumer dried food sales, Growing adoption of fortified and functional dried food products.

The increasing consumption of ready-to-eat meals is anticipated to drive the expansion of the dried food market in the coming years. Ready-to-eat meals are fully prepared food products that can be consumed with little or no additional cooking or preparation. The consumption of ready-to-eat meals is rising due to increasingly time-constrained lifestyles, particularly among working professionals and younger consumer groups, which are driving demand for convenient food solutions that minimize preparation time while maintaining nutritional value and taste. Dried food products support the growing consumption of ready-to-eat meals by serving as key ingredients in product formulations, offering shelf-stable, lightweight, and extended shelf-life properties that enable efficient storage, transportation, and rapid reconstitution. For example, in January 2025, according to the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, a US-based non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry, 88% of Gen Z and millennial consumers in the United States prioritized meals that could be prepared within 45 minutes or less, while 68% relied on frozen food options to streamline daily routines, with year-over-year data indicating continued growth in frozen food purchases compared to 2023 levels. Therefore, the increasing consumption of ready-to-eat meals is expected to drive the growth of the dried food market.

Key companies operating in the dried food market are increasingly focusing on technological advancements in drying techniques, such as lyophilization, to strengthen their competitive positioning. Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is an advanced low-temperature dehydration process that removes moisture from food by initially freezing the product and subsequently sublimating the ice under controlled vacuum conditions. This method enables enhanced preservation of nutritional content, cellular structure, flavor, texture, and overall organoleptic properties compared to conventional heat-based drying techniques, thereby improving product quality and shelf stability. For example, in May 2024, Mountain House, a US-based food manufacturing company, introduced two new freeze-dried Adventure Meals, Chicken Tikka Masala and Kung Pao Chicken, as part of its portfolio expansion in premium ready-to-eat outdoor and emergency food solutions. These products are developed using advanced freeze-drying technology to retain essential vitamins, nutrients, and authentic flavor profiles, while enabling rapid rehydration within minutes through the addition of boiling water.

In December 2025, Mars, Inc., a US-based provider of confectionery, pet care, and diversified food products, completed the acquisition of Kellanova for $36 billion. Through this acquisition, Mars aims to accelerate its growth in the global snacking and wholesome food segments by incorporating a portfolio of established brands, including those offering dried, shelf-stable, and fruit-based snack products, thereby increasing product diversification and strengthening its presence across high-growth categories. Kellanova is a US-based provider of snacks and convenience foods, including dried snack brands such as Pringles, Cheez-It, and various plant-based products under the MorningStar Farms label.

Major companies operating in the dried food market are Cargill Incorporated, Nestlé S.A., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Unilever PLC, Kraft Heinz Company, Olam Food Ingredients, Ajinomoto Co.Inc., Kerry Group plc, McCormick & Company Incorporated, Döhler Group, Bühler Group, Mercer Foods LLC, Sensient Technologies Corporation, Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., Van Drunen Farms, Meelunie B.V., European Freeze Dry, Paradise Fruits Solutions GmbH, Symrise AG, SensoryEffects Ingredient Solutions.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the dried food market in 2025, and it is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the dried food market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the dried food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The dried food market consists of sales of instant soups, powdered food products, dried herbs, dried spices, ready-to-reconstitute meals, and dried dairy products. 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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