Food Robotics Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Type (Articulated Robots [SCARA, Six-axis Robots], Delta & Parallel, Collaborative, Cartesian, Cylindrical, Portal), Payload, Application, End Use - Global Forecast to 2031

The Food Robotics Market was valued at $1.2 billion in 2023. This market is expected to reach $2.8 billion by 2031 from an estimated $1.3 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031.

Food Robotics Market Size & Forecast

The growth of this market is driven by factors such as increasing food safety regulations, rising investments in robotics by food & beverage companies, increasing digitalization in the food & beverage sector, and a growing emphasis on efficient food packaging. Furthermore, the surge in demand from emerging economies is expected to generate growth opportunities for the market. However, high installation costs may restrain market growth. Moreover, the low adoption of robotics among SMEs in the food & beverage sector is a significant challenge impeding the growth of the market.

Food Robotics Market Growth Drivers

Increasing Food Safety Regulations

Securing the global food supply requires stringent regulation and oversight of the entire supply chain. Ensuring food safety encompasses a comprehensive range of activities, including on-farm production, processing, distribution, storage, selection, preparation, and consumption. National legal frameworks fundamentally support effective food control systems. Across all nations, food safety and quality are governed by a complex array of laws and regulations that mandate food chain operators to adhere to established safety and quality standards.

Annually, unsafe food is linked to 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths globally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the U.S. alone, foodborne diseases result in approximately 76 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths each year, with around 30% of these fatalities occurring in children under five years old. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the African region faces the highest per capita burden of foodborne diseases, with over 91 million cases and 137,000 deaths annually, where diarrheal diseases account for 70% of these illnesses. To address these challenges, governments worldwide are enacting various regulations and policies to ensure the safety of food consumed by the public.

In 2021, the USFDA strengthened its focus on its New Era of Smarter Food Safety strategy, which involves expanded use of whole-genome sequencing, accelerated response to outbreaks—particularly as new food-risk factors emerge—and heightened attention to the safety of imported products and restaurant and retail establishments.

Furthermore, Phase 3 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) is anticipated to be implemented, bringing numerous sectors—such as baked goods, confections, snack foods, cereals, and processed products—under the scope of licensing and Preventive Control Program. In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is focusing on escalating audits, moving towards a more stringent auditing approach and enhanced enforcement measures.

Governments worldwide are enacting regulations to combat foodborne illnesses, driven by major changes in the global food system and growing awareness of their impact. For example, the Food and Drug Administration introduced the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to improve food processing safety across both human and animal food industries. Consequently, with the increasing focus on food safety, food robots are becoming essential tools for monitoring and managing these processes.

Increasing Digitalization in the Food & Beverage Sector

Digitalization involves optimizing business processes through advanced technologies such as big data analytics, IT/OT convergence, digital twins, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and automation. Technologies like IoT and AI are enhancing food safety, improving traceability, reducing waste, and cutting costs and risks throughout various stages of food processing and packaging.

In recent years, digital strategies have become crucial in the F&B sector, particularly as companies address challenges like seasonal demand fluctuations. F&B companies are utilizing ERP solutions to uncover previously hidden business opportunities and streamline operations. For example, in North America and Western Europe, digital strategies enable companies to analyze customer needs and trends affecting the demand for diverse F&B products. The widespread adoption of digital strategies across industries promotes greater efficiency and customization, facilitating automated operations with minimal complexity in production lines.

Digitalization has emerged as a crucial facilitator of automation, with AI significantly boosting operational productivity by enhancing workforce efficiency. The F&B industry is subject to various regulations governing the use of digitalization. For instance, the USFDA's Food Safety Modernization Act requires food organizations to update their HACCP principles through ERP systems. Utilizing technology for the HACCP process and maintaining comprehensive databases helps organizations effectively monitor their products and ensure compliance with food safety standards. Furthermore, the potential application of 3D printing technology for testing, research, and development is expected to drive its adoption in mass production.

Implementing intelligent systems equipped with sensors and context-aware capabilities enables remote operations with minimal errors while also enhancing traceability and transparency throughout food safety protocols. Numerous F&B companies are incorporating cognitive platforms into their automated production lines to minimize error margins and improve quality control and traceability.

Furthermore, F&B companies are incorporating other technologies associated with automation processes, including robotics, edge computing, blockchain, and cybersecurity. The adoption of automation and digital technologies has resulted in enhanced efficiency and competitiveness in the F&B sector.

Food Robotics Market Opportunity

Rising Demand from Emerging Economies

In emerging economies, the integration of robotics into the F&B sector presents significant opportunities for sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness. As these economies adopt advanced technological solutions, food manufacturers are leveraging cost-effective automation to achieve higher production volumes and efficiency gains beyond what traditional methods can offer. Labor shortages and rising labor costs are driving food manufacturers in these regions to implement automation solutions to maintain competitiveness and ensure long-term profitability.

Robotics play a pivotal role in reducing reliance on manual labor, thereby curbing operational costs and mitigating risks associated with workforce availability. Moreover, technological advancements in robotics have rendered these solutions more affordable and adaptable to various food processing tasks, enabling manufacturers to optimize their operations with lower investment requirements. These factors, coupled with the increasing demand for processed and packaged foods due to urbanization and evolving consumer lifestyles, are driving the need for efficient manufacturing processes, consequently driving the growth of the food robotics market.

Food Robotics Market Analysis: Key Findings

The Articulated Robots Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market in 2024

Based on type, the food robotics market is segmented into articulated robots, delta & parallel robots, collaborative robots, cartesian robots, cylindrical robots, and portal robots. In 2024, the articulated robots segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 37.8% of the food robotics market. The substantial market share of this segment is due to the high load capacity and flexibility provided by these robots. Key factors include the increasing emphasis on controlling food contamination, the rising adoption of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with articulated arms for inventory management in warehouses and distribution centers, and the growing use of articulated robots in the food industry for pick-and-place operations, packaging applications, and the sorting and inspection of food products.

However, the collaborative robots segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the growing use of cobots for tasks such as picking and placing food items into containers or packaging trays, the increasing use of cobots equipped with vision systems for quality inspection tasks, and the need to optimize inventory tracking and replenishment processes, improve productivity, and safety while supporting human workers in diverse tasks across food production, processing, and service operations. Companies worldwide are adopting collaborative robots due to their efficiency. For instance, Cascina Italia uses collaborative robots that efficiently process millions of eggs per day. This collaborative robot, manufactured by Universal Robots A/S, minimizes human intervention from the strenuous process of preparing bulky packages for large-scale distribution. Moreover, it leverages fenceless operation, allowing the cobot to work side-by-side with employees in production lines.

The Medium Payload Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market in 2024

Based on payload, the food robotics market is segmented into high, low, and medium payload. In 2024, the medium payload segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 47.2% of the food robotics market. This segment’s large market share can be attributed to advancements in medium payload robots designed for packaging, food handling, and pick-and-place applications, coupled with enhancements in gripping technology and the integration of vacuum assistance.

However, the low payload segment is anticipated to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This segment's growth is driven by the rising adoption of low payload robots due to their compact design, which enables operation in confined workspaces and facilitates the automation of highly repetitive and tedious tasks. Moreover, these robots reduce cycle time and enhance overall productivity.

The Palletizing & Depalletizing Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market in 2024

Based on application, the food robotics market is segmented into palletizing & depalletizing, packaging & repacking, pick-and-place, cutting & slicing, grading & sorting, butchery, quality inspection, and other applications. In 2024, the palletizing & depalletizing segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 28.2% of the food robotics market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the growing use of robots for loading & unloading boxes, bags, cases, bottles, cartons, and other items to or from pallets. These robots improve throughput, enhance quality, provide better working conditions, and improve operational efficiency.

However, the packaging & repacking segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the widespread adoption of packaging and repacking robots, which accelerate cycle times and enhance productivity. The increasing demand for robots to optimize packaging operations and improve overall operational efficiency, coupled with the rising popularity of convenience and ready-to-eat packaged foods, also contributes to this trend. Furthermore, stringent food safety and hygiene regulations are prompting manufacturers to implement automated packaging processes to reduce human contact and minimize the risk of contamination.

The Dairy Segment to Dominate the Food Robotics Market in 2024

Based on end use, the food robotics market is segmented into dairy, beverages, bakery & confectionery, meat, poultry, and seafood, fruits and vegetables, oil & fats, and other end uses. In 2024, the dairy segment is expected to account for the largest share of over 27.3% of the food robotics market. This segment’s large market share is due to the rising need to improve quality & productivity and reduce production costs, the surge in demand for high-quality dairy products, and various government initiatives to promote the dairy sector. The implementation of robots in the dairy processing industry provides safety, quality, and profitability by optimizing process monitoring and control. Robots assist in efficiently handling and managing complex repetitive tasks such as treating & manufacturing raw milk and filling & packaging of milk and milk-based products such as butter, ice cream, yogurt, cheese, and milk powder.

However, the beverages segment is projected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing need to maintain quality, consistency, and hygiene while optimizing production processes. Furthermore, the rising demand for greater precision and safety in beverage production has led several robotics companies to develop innovative solutions that minimize waste, optimize profitability, and enhance safety standards across the food supply chain. Robots provide improved control over beverage quality through precise monitoring, ensuring consistent adherence to performance parameters.

Geographical Analysis

Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Food Robotics Market in 2024

In 2024, Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest share of over 48.2% of the food robotics market. Asia-Pacific food robotics market is estimated to be worth USD 0.62 billion in 2024. The significant market share of this regional market is attributed to increased awareness of food hygiene and safety, rising demand for automated solutions to boost efficiency and productivity in food manufacturing and packaging, and significant technological advancements in AI, IoT, and robotics. Additionally, stringent food safety regulations and the widespread adoption of autonomous robots for inventory management, stock level tracking, warehouse optimization, and quality inspection of food products contribute to this market's growth. Moreover, the market in Asia-Pacific is poised to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Food Robotics Market: Key Companies

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 over the past three to four years. Some of the key players operating in the food robotics market are ABB Ltd (Switzerland), Fanuc Corporation (Japan), Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Japan), Kuka AG(Germany), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan), Universal Robots A/S (Denmark), Stäubli International AG (Switzerland), Denso Corporation (Japan), Seiko Epson Corporation (Japan), Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Japan), Omron Corporation (Japan), and Autonox Robotics GmbH (Germany).

Food Robotics Industry Overview: Latest Developments from Key Industry Players

• In April 2023, Doosan Robotics (South Korea) introduced its E-SERIES, a range of NSF-certified collaborative robots designed specifically for the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Prioritizing food safety, the E-SERIES features a design with sealed gaps between the cobot's connecting axes. These robots are easy to install and integrate seamlessly into diverse work environments. They offer a payload capacity of 5 kg (11 lb.) and a reach of nearly 91 cm (3 ft).
• In March 2023, ABB Ltd (Switzerland) collaborated with Parason Group (India) to automate and up-scale production of sustainable and compostable packaging solutions across canteens in India.
• In October 2022, FOODZAPS TECHNOLOGY PTE. LTD (Singapore) partnered with POSBANK Co., Ltd. (South Korea) and CloudMinds Inc. (China) to launch Singapore's first F&B robotics and smart kiosks to drive innovation and alleviate Singapore's F&B workforce crisis.
• In May 2021, Universal Robots A/S (Denmark) launched UR10e, a robot with a payload of 12.5kg.
• In April 2021, KUKA AG (Germany) launched a hygiene robot, KR Delta Hygienic robot, for pick-and-place applications in the food and packaging industries.
• In February 2021, ABB Ltd (Switzerland) launched collaborative robots, GoFa and SWIFTI, in response to the rising demand for automation in various industries, such as electronics, healthcare, consumer goods, logistics, and F&B.

Food Robotics Market Research Summary

Key questions answered in the food robotics market report: