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The European market for colours
In 2008, the European market for colourswas worth
€
361m
, with volumeconsumption totalling
6,307
tonnes,according to RTS. The largest markets in theEU15 are the
UK
, at almost
€
75m
, closelyfollowed by
Germany
(almost
€
73m
)France, Italy and Spain. The European market has seen a growth rateof around
0.9%
year-on-year during thepast five years (from 2003).In terms of growth, Spain has been showingthe highest average annual rate, followed by Portugal, Belgium, Ireland and Denmark.Although these are not particularly high growth rates, given the above factors, the UK market has performed even worse.Europe’s slow growing food market, together with increasing manufacturer avoidance of colours usage have had an e
ff
ect on volume growth, whilst the need for colours where‘natural’ alternatives are yet to be developed has helped to maintain growth in terms of value.
Colours
Western Europe
Data and analysis taken from
Colours
- a Food Manufacture Market Reportproduced in association with RTS.
€
361m
Total market value of colours inWestern Europe, 2008
Source: RTS Global Ingredient Database
SPECIAL REPORT
Where are colours used?
Usage of colours is highest in
soft drinks
(
€
75m), followed by
confectionery
and
meat & savoury products
. Colours arealso used in
bakery
and
cereals & cerealbars
.
Varying success
Usage in soft drinks is in slight decline,mainly as a result of consumer healthconcerns, especially as they relate tochildren. The use of colours in cereals and cerealbars has grown well. Not only have thesemarkets grown but so too has theproportion of added value and children’sbreakfast cereals. The bakery segment has also performedrelatively well.
Colours Western Europe Special Report
© Copyright RTS Resource 2009
Page 2 of 5
Colours
Western Europe: Market value of colours by key country,2008
€
m
Source: RTS Resource.
Rest of EU15
€
83mSpain
€
37mItaly
€
47mFrance
€
47mGermany
€
73mUK
€
75m
Data and analysis taken from
Colours
- a Food Manufacture Market Reportproduced in association with RTS.
Colours
Western Europe: Market value of colours by segment,2008
€
m
Source: RTS Resource.
Soft drinksConfectioneryMeat & savouryButter & yellow fatsFruit & vegetablesYogurt & desserts
€
22m
€
22m
€
32m
€
39m
€
45m
€
75m
Key Trends
Colours help to keep foods looking ‘fresh’throughout their shelf life or duringprocessing - but recent reports (see
TheSouthampton Study
, below) and mediainterest have heightened pressure oncompanies to choose ‘natural’ alternativesinstead. Whilst this is likely to have adamaging e
ff
ect on the use of certaincolours, synthetic colours remain indemand in areas where viable natural alternatives have yet to be developed.
Pressure from EFSA: The Southampton Study
In December 2007, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked to assess a studycarried out by the University of Southampton, which suggested that certain mixes of foodcolours with the preservative sodium benzoate (commonly used in soft drinks) couldcause hyperactivity in children. The main conclusion subsequently brought to theEuropean Commission by the EFSA was that artificial food colours and additives wereseen to exacerbate hyperactive behaviour in children, at least to middle childhood.Since the study’s findings were published, o
ffi
cialEU advice to parents suggests that childrensusceptible to hyperactivity should avoid thefollowing:
•
Sunset yellow (E110)
•
Quinoline yellow (E104)
•
Carmoisine (E122)
•
Allura red (E129)
•
Tartrazine (E102)
•
Ponceau 4R (E124)Whilst some controversy remains around itsfindings, The Southampton Study has encouragedmany retailers and manufacturers to reformulate products containing the above colours. This is not a new phenomenon, as many companies have been working for years toreplace artificial colours, but this study was significant in accelerating the process.
Colours Western Europe Special Report
© Copyright RTS Resource 2009
Page 3 of 5
Further information is available in:
Colours
- a Food Manufacture Market Reportproduced in association with RTS.
Key Drivers
The main drivers are, as follows:
•
Health
- particularly for children
•
Development of ‘natural’alternatives
•
Movement from artificial towardsnature identical (NI)
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