Flavor and fragrances market worldwide - statistics & facts
A wide variety of consumer goods is enriched with flavors and scents that make the difference.
These components are part of the flavor and fragrance (F&F) market, and they can be natural or artificial. Consumers can find them in both food and non-food products, like beverages or personal care items. The value of the global flavor and fragrance market amounted to some 35 billion euros in 2019 and increased to 40 billion euros as of 2023. In the same year, the flavor segment of the industry generated about 18.4 billion euros, making it the division with the highest market value. Fragrance came in second, while aroma molecules and cosmetic ingredients made up the smallest division.
Flavors and fragrances can be a deal-breaker when it comes to purchasing a product. As consumers' wishes change, and for example, many of them opt for more and more natural and organic products, this market might soon evolve, and its leading players will have to quickly cater to these needs.
Leading vendors in Europe
Several big names can be found within the global flavors and fragrances industry. As of the year 2023, Givaudan, IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), Symrise, and Firmenich were the “four giants” that accounted for more than half of the global F&F market. Givaudan, a Swiss-based F&F manufacturer, has experienced remarkable growth in its total group sales over the past few years, generating nearly seven billion Swiss francs in 2023, of which the majority came from the sale of flavors. In the same period, the German company Symrise AG reached over 4.7 billion euros in global sales. Its most successful segment proved to be Taste, Nutrition, and Health. Meanwhile, in May 2023, the Swiss company Firmenich announced the merger with DSM and the creation of DSM-Firmenich.United States: International Flavor & Fragrances Inc.
With a global market size of roughly 20 percent, International Flavor & Fragrances Inc., a.k.a. IFF, can be considered the leading player on the flavor and fragrance market. The American company, founded in 1958 and currently headquartered in New York, recently saw a remarkable spike in its global net sales, which reached over 11.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Most of these sales came from the EMEA region and North America. Another impressive increase could be observed in the company’s total R&D spending, which reached a peak of roughly 636 million U.S. dollars as of 2023.Flavors and fragrances can be a deal-breaker when it comes to purchasing a product. As consumers' wishes change, and for example, many of them opt for more and more natural and organic products, this market might soon evolve, and its leading players will have to quickly cater to these needs.
