Italy's food market rides dual wave of high-protein, high-fiber trends

High-protein foods have dominated Italy's food market for years, but 2026 is shaping up as the year dietary fiber establishes itself as a second major growth pillar.

According to KOTRA, dietary fiber is drawing growing attention in the Italian food market for its role in gut health and microbiome management.

Demand is spreading across a wide range of categories — cereals, snacks, dairy alternatives and functional health foods. Manufacturers are differentiating their products by putting keywords such as "high fiber," "gut health" and "prebiotics" front and center.

Products emphasizing fiber content are rapidly expanding their presence across Italy's food market. According to market research firm Grand View Research, the segment is projected to grow at an average annual rate of around 8 percent through 2030.

The regulatory environment is also supporting market expansion. The European Food Safety Authority allows health claims related to fiber's digestive and blood sugar benefits under strict criteria. Products containing at least 3 grams of dietary fiber per 100 grams may carry a "source of fiber" label, while those with 6 grams or more qualify for a "high fiber" designation.

A KOTRA official advised that Korean companies would be better served by making the natural ingredients and traditional processing methods behind K-food intuitively understandable to Italian consumers, rather than simply highlighting high-fiber content.