Dairy Products Drive Growth in Food Consumption in Spain and Lead Sector Innovation

PDF

AÑADIR A FAVORITOS

The second largest food category in the Spanish shopping basket, dairy products consolidate their structural role in food consumption and also act as a driving category that promotes broader and more comprehensive purchasing actions within the food market, according to a study by Worldpanel by Numerator.
Present in 46% of consumption moments and in 100% of households in our country, the sector energizes the food category by innovating above the market average and turning one out of every two disruptive innovations into a success story.

The Spanish dairy industry continues to consolidate as one of the main drivers of the food sector. This is reflected in the analysis presented by Raquel Arribas, Director of Institutional Relations at Worldpanel by Numerator, during the International Dairy Day organized by the National Federation of Dairy Industries (FeNIL), which positions dairy products as an essential category for their ability to connect with consumers, drive market growth, and energize the shopping basket.

Dairy products are currently the second largest food category in the Spanish shopping basket, very close to fresh and frozen meat, confirming their structural relevance within household consumption habits.

The study also highlights the significant driving role of dairy products within the food market. Baskets that include dairy foods incorporate more categories and are associated with broader and more comprehensive purchasing actions than those where they are not present.

Each Spanish household allocates an average of 529 euros per year to these categories and makes 76 purchase actions annually. Despite representing 10.5% of the market value, the dairy industry contributes 15% of its growth.

An essential category in everyday life

The research highlights the cross-cutting nature of dairy products in the eating habits of Spaniards: they reach 100% of Spanish households, with 42.8 million consumers, are present in 46% of food and beverage consumption occasions recorded in our country —one out of every two consumption moments includes a dairy product—.

The report also reflects how the category continues to evolve and expand its consumption spaces beyond breakfast. Dairy products are gaining prominence in moments related to snacking, break time, convenience, and between-meal consumption, adapting to new lifestyles and consumption habits. In this context, milkshakes, with a high milk content, emerge as a practical and nutritionally relevant solution that helps extend dairy consumption beyond traditional formats.

Worldpanel Highlights the Strength of the Dairy Mix and the Sector’s Ability to Adapt to New Uses and Consumption Needs

Overall, the strength and complementarity of the dairy mix are highlighted, as well as its ability to respond to new habits and consumption moments. In this context, cheese stands out as one of the main drivers of the sector’s value growth, along with the positive evolution of yogurts and fermented products, dairy desserts, butter, and cream, as well as segments like liquid milk and milkshakes, reflecting the complementarity, diversity, and driving capacity of the category.

Innovation is precisely one of the major growth drivers of the sector. According to data presented by Worldpanel, the dairy industry stands out especially for its ability to develop disruptive innovation connected to new consumer demands.

In fact, one out of every two disruptive innovations launched by the sector achieves success levels above the market average, and dairy innovations generate 10% more incremental growth than conventional launches. Additionally, the sector concentrates 13% of the market’s disruptive innovations despite representing 10% of its value.

Worldpanel also highlights the sector’s ability to attract new buyers and respond to major consumption trends, driving solutions linked to convenience, health, pleasure, practicality, and new food uses.

For Javier Roza, president of FeNIL, who was in charge of inaugurating the event, “these data clearly reflect the reality of a sector that is part of the daily life of millions of people and contributes decisively to the economic, social, and territorial development of our country. The dairy industry is strategic because it creates value and energizes the market; it is essential because it accompanies consumers at all stages of life; and innovative because it knows how to adapt to new demands and transform that knowledge into growth, competitiveness, and better solutions for citizens.”

Scientific Evidence and Nutritional Value Against Misinformation

The sector emphasizes the importance of continuing to provide rigorous and evidence-based information about the role of dairy products in a balanced diet.

Various recent scientific works, such as the “White Paper on Dairy Products,” promoted by the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) and InLac, highlight the positive contribution of dairy products to metabolic, muscular, bone, and brain health at different stages of life.

The publication, prepared with the participation of more than fifty scientific and academic experts from around the world, emphasizes the importance of combating false beliefs and misinformation about dairy products through rigorous, accessible, and scientifically-backed nutritional information. In this regard, the sector considers it crucial to continue reinforcing knowledge about the nutritional value, versatility, and role of dairy products in a balanced diet, especially among new generations.

An Event Highlighting the Strategic Nature of the Sector

The event also featured the participation of prominent representatives from the Administration, nutrition, and industry:

José Antonio Aróstegui, Deputy Director General of Multilateral Trade Policy and Economic Security at the Secretary of State for Trade, analyzed the international trade context and its implications for the dairy sector.
Rosaura Leis, President of the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN), and Ramón de Cangas, doctor and dietitian-nutritionist, focused on the role of dairy products as essential foods within a balanced diet and the challenges it faces with new generations.
For his part, Chakib Kara, General Director of Tetra Pak Iberia, reflected on the strategic nature of the dairy industry and its contribution to economic and social development.

The closing was conducted by Elena Busutil, General Director of Agricultural Productions and Markets at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), who highlighted the sector’s relevance for the entire food chain and the rural environment.

About the National Federation of Dairy Industries (FeNIL)

The National Federation of Dairy Industries represents more than 60 companies in the sector, which process 95% of the national production of dairy foods. FeNIL works for the Spanish dairy industry sector to ensure its evolution, optimization, and continuity, contributing to the sustainability of the entire chain.