The global anthocyanin food colors market reached USD 338.2 million in 2023. Anthocyanin food colors demand would be USD 368.2 million in 2025. The global market is expected to grow at a rate of 4.9% CAGR during the forecast period (2025 to 2035), eventually reaching a sales value of USD 593.5 million by 2035.
Drivers such as growing consumer preference towards natural and plant-based food ingredients are likely to lead to considerable growth of anthocyanin food colors market. Increased awareness regarding health and wellness has also encouraged consumers to adopt natural substitutes for artificial additives, such as synthetic food colors, which have seen a growing wave of criticism for posing possible health hazards.
Consequently, anthocyanin-based food colourings from natural origins such as berries and grapes, red cabbage and black carrots, among others, have become increasingly popular. Piling on the new era of plant-based colourants that provide stunning reds, purples and blues to labelling also aligns with the clean label trend, prioritizing transparency, low processing and the lack of chemical formulations in food.
Anthocyanin food colours have a number of uses in the food industry, such as in beverages, confectionary, dairy and bakery. In the beverage market, anthocyanins occur in fruit drinks, flavoured water and functional drinks, in confectionery business and bakery fillings, they add color without compromising on the quality of employing natural constituents.
Antioxidant-filled anthocyanin pigments are also being utilized in a broader spectrum of dairy and dairy-like foods like yogurt and plant-based products to attract the health-conscious consumer.
Besides their application as coloring natural agents, anthocyanins also possess other functional advantages as antioxidants that could enhance cardio vascular health and offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Their strong market demand is supported by high health advantages apart from coloring.
Major Key Players include Naturex, Sensient Technologies, Chr. Hansen is among the companies at the forefront of this innovation, creating stable and cutting-edge anthocyanin-based color solutions that are not only tolerant to processing conditions such as heat and pH changes but can also endure them.
Market players make considerable investments towards researching and developing anthocyanin pigments to improve stability and versatility of the product spectrum in order to stay ahead of the competition. Increasing associations with food manufacturers along with providing education to the customers about the benefits of natural colorants are anticipated to further fueling the growth of anthocyanins food colors market in the coming years.
| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Global Anthocyanin Food Colors Industry Size (2025E) | USD 368.2 million |
| Projected Global Anthocyanin Food Colors Industry Value (2035F) | USD 593.5 million |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 4.9% |
The increasing adoption of anthocyanin food colors in functional and health-oriented food products has substantially driven the market expansion. As regulatory agencies like the FDA and EFSA are favoring the use of natural ingredients over the use of synthetic alternative, manufacturers are increasingly turning towards anthocyanins as a safer and sustainable substitute to artificial dyes. The increasing adoption of plant-based diets and organic food products, in particular, have also been key contributors to demand growth.
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The table below presents a comparative assessment of the variation in CAGR over six months for the base year (2024) and the current year (2025) for the global anthocyanin food colors industry. This analysis highlights crucial shifts in market performance and revenue trends, giving stakeholders better insight into growth patterns.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 | 4.6% (2024 to 2034) |
| H2 | 4.7% (2024 to 2034) |
| H1 | 4.8% (2025 to 2035) |
| H2 | 4.9% (2025 to 2035) |
The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% over H1 2025 to 2035 and 4.9% over H2 2035. As we move on to the next stage, between H1 2025 and H2 2035, the CAGR is expected to continue its upward path. The market's growth will be propelled by emerging preference for natural food components among consumers, the development of food color extraction technology and the increasing demand for healthier plant-based food products.
Tier 1, there are major companies that have a high revenue, extensive distribution, and brand names that are significant in the anthocyanin food colors market. They invest big in R and D, ensuring their formulations are high quality, stable, natural colors, and meet industry standards.
Sensient Technologies Corporation is one of the top players in the market, providing a variety of natural food color products such as colors based on anthocyanin obtained from fruits as well as vegetables. Another key competitor, Chr. Hansen, supplies anthocyanin extracts for a wide range of food and beverage application areas, emphasising clean-label, sustainable and plant-based colour solutions. These brands utilize advanced extraction technology, global supply chain, and solid partnerships with food manufacturing players.
Tier 2: More mature brands, upper mid-sized with higher market presence have a strong base market and focus on organic ingredients, customized formulations and regional supply chains. One of the most well recognized names is GNT Group, who produce naturally-derived EXBERRY® colours from non-genetically modified edible plants, such as blackcurrants and elderberries, that are rich in anthocyanins.
Another major competitor is Naturex (a Givaudan company) which offers anthocyanin-based colors for dairy, confectionery and beverages. These companies promote transparency, natural sourcing and adherence to global regulatory standards to reach food manufacturers seeking clean-label substitutes.
Tier 3 is emerging or small-scale brands growing through niche product offerings, sustainable practices, and direct-to-consumer marketing. These businesses generally file the initial patent for organic, minimally processed, or specialty anthocyanin extracts designed for artisanal food and beverage brands.
Natural color solutions, such as anthocyanin-based blends for unique applications, is where ColorMaker Inc., for example, comes in. Other smaller players target innovative sourcing, like upcycling waste from processed fruit for sustainable colorants. These businesses can take advantage of online sales, collaboration with organic food products, and specialty merchants to gain a foothold in the market.
Rising Demand for Natural and Clean-Label Food Colors
Shift: Anticipatory, increasing health consciousness and regulation of artificial additives are prompting consumers to move away from synthetic food colors toward natural, plant-based alternatives such as anthocyanins. Purchasing decisions are being supported by clean-label and organic certifications, resulting in high demand in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Strategic Response: To cater to this demand, Chr. Hansen and Sensient Technologies have both also recently added certified organic, non-GMO anthocyanin-based food colors derived from black carrots, purple sweet potatoes, and elderberries to their portfolios.
In July, Givaudan and DDW The Color House unveiled pH-stable anthocyanin solutions that remain vibrant in for an array of applications from dairy to beverages. The increased regulatory approval for natural colors in the FDA and the EU is another pathway that has popularized the credibility and use of anthocyanin-based colors.
Rise in Applications in Beverages and Confectionery
Shift: Especially for the beverage industry, anthocyanin food colors have become one of the major consumer products of functional drinks, soft drinks, and plant-based milk. Also, confectionery brands are moving to natural colorants to respond to the demand for cleaner labels.
Strategic Response: To cater to these trends, Cargill and Kalsec have developed water-soluble anthocyanin extracts that are more stable in fruit juices, sports drinks, and carbonated beverages. Mars Wrigley and Ferrero have replaced synthetic dyes used in candy and chocolate coatings with anthocyanins derived from black carrots, satisfying clean-label trends.
Danone and Nestlé used anthocyanin-based colors in their plain yogurts and frozen dairy-free drinks, catering to health-conscious consumers.
Plant-Based and Functional Food Products On the Rise
Shift: As veganism and plant based diets rise, anthocyanin colours are more widely being integrated into protein bars, dairy alternatives and meat substitutes. Their antioxidant properties also make them interesting in functional foods.
Strategic Response: In the effort to capture this opportunity, both Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat began including beet and black currant anthocyanins to improve the look of plant-based meats. Berry-Infused Protein Bars: Clif Bar and KIND Snacks deliver protein bars colored by anthocyanins; highlighting dual functionality from a color enhancement perspective and for antioxidant properties. To give their dairy-free products a natural color boost, Daiya and Oatly added purple sweet potato extracts in their formulations.
The increasing awareness of the health benefits and antioxidant properties
Shift: Anthocyanins, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular health benefits, are only one of several attractive traits to health-conscious consumers searching for functional ingredients that go beyond mere coloring.
Strategic Response: Naturex (Givaudan) and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) released two-pronged anthocyanin ingredients intended to serve as both natural food colorants and dietary supplements. Herbal supplement companies such as Swisse and NutraChamps marketed anthocyanin-rich capsules and powders, which furthered its uses. Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo promoted anthocyanin-tinted products as health functional for a wellness-focused consumer.
Stability and pH Sensitivity Challenges
Shift: Although anthocyanin food colors have benefits, such as pH sensitivity, heat stability, and retention over time, their limitations also hinder their application in certain formulations.
Strategic Response: To address these limitations, Firmenich and Wild Flavors (ADM) developed pH-stabilized anthocyanin color blends, enhancing their viability for use in carbonated beverages and dairy products. Kalsec and DDW give examples of using microencapsulation techniques to improve anthocyanin stability in processed food. Food manufacturers are also investing in bioengineered sources of anthocyanins that offer greater stability and uniformity.
Growth in Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing
Shift: Sustainability is a major purchasing consideration as consumers are seeking ethically sourced, non-GMO, and organic anthocyanin ingredients. There is also a market with an impetus for environmentally conscious production methods that lower water and energy usage.
Strategic Response: Oterra (formerly Chr. (the former now part of Hansen Natural Colors) and GNT Group for developing fair-trade and regenerative agriculture initiatives to source anthocyanin-loaded botanicals such as blackcurrants and hibiscus. In another milestone, Barry Callebaut and Döhler established carbon-neutral production lines of anthocyanins, minimizing environmental footprint.
New packaging technologies, such as creating sachets for anthocyanin powders in biodegradable film, are also being seized as a way to tap into sustainability-conscious markets.
Market Penetration for Competitive Pricing Strategies
Shift: Anthocyanin-based food colors are often considered premium ingredients, which presents a challenge for price-sensitive markets due to their higher cost. As this demand grows, brands are turning to cost-effective solutions to enhance accessibility.
Strategic Response: For pricing concerns, Sensient Technologies and DDW created economical anthocyanin blends that imitate the functionality of synthetic hues but are natural (see chart). Supermarket chains, including Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, launched private-label products with anthocyanin-based food colors, bringing the cost of natural varieties down. Anthocyanins is also offered for food manufacturers through bulk pricing and subscription models, allowing companies to incorporate anthocyanins at low cost.
The following table shows the estimated growth rates of the top five territories expected to exhibit high consumption of anthocyanin food colors through 2035.
| Country | CAGR, 2025 to 2035 |
|---|---|
| USA | 4.5% |
| Germany | 4.2% |
| China | 5.4% |
| Japan | 4.6% |
| India | 6.1% |
Growing inclination of consumers towards natural and plant-based food ingredients is driving growth in the USA anthocyanin food color market. The demand for anthocyanins derived from fruits and vegetables is growing on account of the rising shift from synthetic food dyes in beverages, confectionery, and dairy products.
To cater to such consumers, there is a growing demand for clean-label and naturally sourced food color among consumers as awareness about health risk due to artificial colorants and it potential threats to health is rising.
The development of high-performance anthocyanin color extracts is also being fostered by the continued advancement of technology in pigment stabilization and the development of pH-resistant formulations. Recently, the extraction techniques that can improve the stability and brightness of the food colorants from anthocyanin have been developed by companies in order to expand the food applications.
Growing sector of plant-based and function food consumerism USA is increasing the use of anthocyanin’s in sports nutritional product, fortified beverages, organic snacks. The increasing impact of sustainability and environmentally cognizant consumer behavior is also fueling the USA anthocyanin landscape.
The manufacturers are doing R&D in sustainably sourcing anthocyanin rich crops like blueberries, blackberries, and purple sweet potato. Consequently, the market is gaining traction from partnerships between food ingredient suppliers and organic farmers for sustained availability of quality anthocyanin extracts.
Germany Anthocyanin food color market in Germany is growing at a steady pace as EU has made food labeling laws and sustainability rules more stringent. For food colorants, organic certified, non-genetically modified organism (GMO), and minimally processed food colorants are increasingly being demanded in bakery, beverage, and functional food premium segments.
Driven by demand from German consumers for high-quality, clean-label ingredients, food manufacturers are reformulating their products to include natural colorants that are compliant with the strict EU health and labelling regulations.
Germany’s focus on clean-label and sustainable food production and ingredients is driving manufacturers to invest in anthocyanin sources rich in antioxidants including purple carrots, blackcurrants, or elderberries. These natural sources will not only improve the coloration but they will also provide additional health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health and anti-inflammatory properties, which is also driving consumer interest.
The surge of organic and artisanal food brands in Germany further drives the growth of the anthocyanin food color market. In addition, small and mid-sized scale manufacturers are understanding the potential of anthocyanin food colorants to add unique value to their products as well as target health-conscious consumer and accordingly using them. Moreover, rising government support for plant-based food innovation is pushing the companies to develop a wider range of anthocyanin-enriched preparations.
The use of anthocyanin food colors in China is increasing rapidly as health awareness and the demand for natural functional ingredients in processed foods rises. Global beverage, dairy alternative and snack food dealers in urban, on-line grocery markets would like to market products enriched with anthocyanin’s.
There is great consumer demand for aesthetic food products which also bring functional health value for Chinese consumers. This wide adoption of anthocyanin colorants can be seen in nutritional food categories.
State-backed initiatives in China to push clean-label, plant-based food additives are fueling investments in high-yield anthocyanin extraction from domestically sourced fruits, including mulberries and red cabbage. Importantly, the country’s food industry can boost the supply by encouraging local farmers to furnish more raw materials rich in anthocyanin’s to reduce the dependency on imports.
China's e-commerce rapidly develops the anthocyanin food color market. Online grocery platforms have made a wide variety of naturally colored food and beverage products available to health-conscious consumers, who are expected to drive demand for anthocyanin-based food products. Given the increasing demand for plant-based, functional foods, the anthocyanin market in China will continue expanding in the coming years.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Fruits (By Source) | 52.6% |
Fruits are preferred, both because they are richer in natural pigments and because consumers prefer fruit-based colorants. Berries including blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are some examples of commonly used materials in food and beverage applications, and exhibiting beautiful colours from deep purple to rich red. These are being propelled by increasing demand for clean-label and plant-based ingredients, leading to the adoption of fruit-derived anthocyanins as a natural replacement for synthetic food dyes.
Additionally, anthocyanins from fruits or whole food sources have a high antioxidant profile having seen higher attentiveness from health-conscious consumers and functional food manufacturers. Beverage companies lighten up on juices, smoothies and in-flavours waters with prominent use of these colourants to make them aesthetically appealing yet maintaining a 100% natural ingredient list.
More people aware of the clean eating trend, and this demand would continue to rise, anthocyanin segment obtained from fruit is anticipated to witness growth as more companies focusing on sustainable extraction methods and offering organic certification to meet the needs of the consumers.
| Segment | Value Share (2025) |
|---|---|
| Powder (By Form) | 47.8% |
Powder form of anthocyanin-based food color is in strong demand as it is more stable and easy to handle with a longer shelf life than its liquid and gel counterparts. Powdered anthocyanins are used in bakery products, confectionery and dry beverage mixes, as they can be incorporated well into formulations without changes to the texture of the product. It is also the preferred form for mass production of food because it is easy to transport and store.
Powdered anthocyanins are preferred by manufacturers due to their greater pigment content, enabling accurate color adjustment for food and beverage applications. Moreover, being available in powder format gives it flexible dosage and can be used in various end-use industries, such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Newer microencapsulation processes allow for even more stable and light- and heat-resistant powdered anthocyanins, which can be used to sustain brilliant natural coloring in the food product over its shelf life.
Growing focus on the development of more functional ingredients, which not only provide health benefits but also have better sensory properties, is anticipated to increase investments in research and development (R&D) among market players. With an emphasis on innovations, firms aim to come up with superior probiotic formulations that can help maintain gut health, immune function, and overall well-being, especially post the use of antibiotics.
Along with R&D initiatives, companies are expanding their product offerings to include a wide array of consumer preferences -- including dairy probiotics, plant-based options, and supplement formats (capsules and powders).
Thus to be relevant in this evolving probiotics after antibiotic recovery scenario companies are also partnering and collaborating with others. Through these alliances, they are in a position to utilize scientific know-how, gain access to new technologies, and fast track product development.
In addition, significant market players are implementing consumer education and marketing initiatives which is expected to increase the awareness regarding the potential benefits of probiotics for post-antibiotic gut health, thus, accelerating market expansion and flourishing growth in the longer term.
For instance:
The global anthocyanin food color industry is projected to reach USD 368.2 million in 2025.
The market registered a CAGR of 4.5% between 2020 and 2024.
Key players include Sensient Technologies, Chr. Hansen, Naturex, Symrise, and Givaudan.
North America is expected to dominate due to high demand for natural food coloring in functional foods and beverages.
The industry is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2025 to 2035.
Key drivers include rising demand for plant-based food colorants, increasing applications in bakery and beverage industries, growing preference for organic food additives, and advancements in natural pigment stabilization.
This segment is further categorized into fruits, vegetables, flowers, and others (black rice, black soybeans, purple corn).
This segment is further categorized into powder, liquid, and gel.
This segment is further categorized into food & beverage, cosmetics, pet food, pharmaceuticals, and textile.
The market is segmented as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Central Asia, Russia and Belarus, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Middle East and Africa.
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Anthocyanin Food Colors Market
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