Europe Sausage Casings Market by Type (Artificial Casings, Natural Casings), Application (Animal Meat Sausages, Vegan Sausages), Distribution Channel (Offline, Online), End User (Food Processors, Retailers), and Country - Forecast to 2030

The Europe Sausage Casings Market is projected to reach $2.72 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period of 2023 to 2030. The growth of the Europe sausage casings market is driven by the growing preference for artificial casings by sausage manufacturers, increasing meat production and consumption in Europe, and the rising consumption of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products. However, complexities in the use of natural sausage casings restrain the growth of this market. The emergence of vegetarian sausage casings is expected to generate growth opportunities for the players operating in this market. However, animal disease & health concerns are a major challenge for market growth.

Key Players

The report offers a competitive analysis based on an extensive assessment of the leading players’ product portfolios and geographic presence and the key growth strategies adopted by them in the last 3–4 years. Some of the key players operating in the Europe sausage casings market are Viscofan, S.A. (Spain), Devro Plc (U.K.), Selo B.V. (Netherlands), DAT-Schaub Group (Denmark), ViskoTeepak Holding Ab Ltd (Finland), Amjadi GmbH (Germany), Peter Gelhard Naturdärme KG (Germany), Fibran Group (Spain), Viskase Companies, Inc. (U.S.), FABIOS S.A. (Poland), Kalle GmbH (Germany), CDS Hackner GmbH (Germany), Oversea Casing Company (U.S.), Nutra Produkte AG (Switzerland), Combinatie Teijsen VD Hengel (CTH) BV (Netherlands), Strobel GmbH & Co. KG Boyauderie Sarroise (Germany), MCJ Casings (U.K.), and Irish Casing Company (Ireland).

Sausage Manufacturers’ Growing Preference for Artificial Casings is Driving the Growth of the Europe Sausage Casings Market

Traditionally, sausages have been manufactured by stuffing meat into natural casings made from the intestines of animals; however, artificial casings are now available on the market due to the tremendous focus on innovation and product development in the casings industry. Natural sausage casings are irregular in size and shape, whereas artificial casings are available in various shapes, sizes, and appearances. If natural sausage casings are not stored properly, they smell bad, making them unusable. Also, the possibility of breakage and microbial contamination is much higher with natural casings than with artificial casings. Also, artificial casings allow for the addition of coloring agents, spices, smoke flavoring, and other materials that get deposited on the product surface after stuffing and processing, imparting taste and texture to the product. The variety of artificial casings available on the market is almost unlimited.

Furthermore, the cost benefits of using artificial casings, especially collagen casing for sausage manufacturers, can be substantial, with significant savings in terms of time and labor costs, as collagen casing is easy to work with due to its better consistency and stability than natural casings. Thus, using artificial casings helps sausage manufacturers save costs significantly—over 50% in some cases. Also, unlike natural casings, collagen casings are ready for use, and soaking or other preparation is not required. Collagen casings are particularly effective when sausages are filled mechanically with conventional stuffing machines, as the casings are replenished automatically. This factor helps increase throughput and reduce processing times. Thus, manufacturers can increase their production volumes considerably using artificial casings. These advantages of artificial casings over natural casings have increased their adoption among sausage manufacturers, driving the growth of the sausage casings market in Europe.

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Emergence of Vegetarian Sausage Casings to Offer Immense Growth Opportunities for Sausage Casings Manufacturers

In recent years, vegetarianism and veganism have gained popularity in Europe due to growing health awareness, environmental concerns, and animal compassion. According to the European Vegetarian Union, around 10% of Europe’s population was vegetarian in 2021 (3% in 2007), while 3% was vegan. According to a study by Veganz, a German vegan supermarket, the number of vegans in Germany has doubled since 2016, reaching 2.6 million in 2021. Plant-based foods are popular among vegetarian & vegan consumers.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, appropriately planned vegetarian (including vegan) diets are healthy and nutritionally adequate and reduce the risk of certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and certain types of cancer. These diets suit all stages of the human lifecycle (including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and older adulthood) and athletes. Plant-based diets are high in fiber and provide all the necessary nutrients when planned well.

According to the Good Food Institute Europe, retail sales of plant-based foods reached USD 6.1 billion in 2022, an increase of 11.5% over 2020. Plant-based meat is a rapidly growing segment, with retail sales reaching USD 2.1 billion in 2022, up from 1.9 billion in 2020.

Thus, Europe’s growing vegan population and the health benefits of plant-based products support the demand for plant-based foods, generating opportunities for leading meat producers to expand their existing product portfolios with vegan sausages and meat alternatives, which is expected to drive the demand for vegetarian sausage casings in Europe.

Key Findings in the Europe Sausage Casings Market Study:

In 2023, the Artificial Casings Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Sausage Casings Market

Based on type, the Europe sausage casings market is segmented into artificial and natural sausage casings. In 2023, the artificial sausage casings segment is expected to account for the larger share of the Europe sausage casings market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the increasing consumption of processed meat, the growing demand for vegan sausages, and the increasing preference for artificial casings over natural casings from casing manufacturers due to their consistency, stability, and cost-effectiveness.

Moreover, the artificial sausage casings segment is also expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period of 2023–2030. The growth of this segment is primarily attributed to the emergence of vegetarian casings.

In 2023, the Animal-based Sausages Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Sausage Casings Market

Based on application, the Europe sausage casings market is segmented into animal-based sausages and plant-based sausages. In 2023, the animal-based sausages segment is expected to account for the larger share of the Europe sausage casings market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to increased animal meat consumption, the rising urban population, the high popularity of collagen casings, and increased consumer preference for a protein-rich diet.

However, the plant-based sausages segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of this segment is attributed to the consumer shift toward healthy, tasty, sustainable, and environment-friendly varieties of sausages.

In 2023, the Offline Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Sausage Casings Market

Based on distribution channel, the Europe sausage casings market is segmented into offline and online. In 2023, the offline segment is expected to account for the larger share of the Europe sausage casings market. The large market share of this segment is mainly attributed to the growing number of modern groceries offering high-quality food products, a wide range of food products, and consumer preference for shopping offline due to the enhanced shopping experience offered by these channels.

However, the online segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment can be attributed to the advantages of faster and more convenient accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and the increasing penetration of the Internet and smartphones.

In 2023, the Food-Processing Companies Segment is Expected to Dominate the Europe Sausage Casings Market

Based on end user, the Europe sausage casings market is segmented into food-processing companies, food service providers, food retailers, and other end users. In 2023, the food-processing companies segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe sausage casings market. The increasing demand for processed sausages has led to the large-scale production of sausages, driving the demand for sausage casings from food-processing companies. Moreover, the growing preference for innovative food options, increased automation in sausage production, and maximized production efficiencies further support this segment's leading position.

However, the food service providers segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for prepared food from food service centers, driven by the busy lifestyles of the working population and the continuous improvement of food service providers' distribution channels.

Germany: The Dominating Market in the Region

Based on country, the Europe sausage casings market is segmented into Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, Poland, Netherlands, Russia, Austria, Belgium, and the Rest of Europe. In 2023, Germany is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe sausage casings market. The market growth in Germany is driven by the high production of sausage & processed meat products, increased average meat consumption, the presence of several sausage manufacturers, the availability of diverse food options, the rising popularity of vegetarian sausage products, and the increasing demand for convenience food products.

However, the Netherlands is expected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth of this market is driven by the modernization of the meat processing industry, including the adoption of high-tech slaughter lines and the increasing demand for plant-based sausages.

Scope of the Report:

Europe Sausage Casings Market Assessment, by Type

• Artificial Sausage Casings
  • Collagen Casings
    • Edible Collagen Casings
    • Non-edible Collagen Casings
  • Cellulose Casings
  • Plastic Casings
  • Fibrous Casings
  • Textile Casings
  • Net Casings
  • Vegetarian Casings
• Natural Sausage Casings
  • Hog-sourced Casings
  • Beef-sourced Casings
  • Sheep-sourced Casings
  • Other Animal-sourced Casings

Europe Sausage Casings Market Assessment, by Application

• Animal-based Sausages
  • Fresh Sausages
  • Processed Sausages
    • Pre-cooked Sausages
    • Smoked Sausages
    • Cured Sausages
• Plant-based Sausages

Europe Sausage Casings Market Assessment, by Distribution Channel

• Offline
• Online

Europe Sausage Casings Market Assessment, by End User

• Food Processing Organizations
• Food Retail
• Food Service Providers
• Other End Users

Europe Sausage Casings Market Assessment, by Country

• Germany
• France
• Italy
• U.K.
• Spain
• Poland
• Netherlands
• Russia
• Belgium
• Austria
• Rest of Europe

Key Questions Answered in the Report: