Consumers aged 55 and above make up over a fifth of dairy consumption in the US, and this number is set to increase. Manufacturers should develop functional dairy products to meet the needs of aging population, whose consumption alone was worth almost 8.7 billion US$ in 2013, Canadean (canadean.com) says. 

Older consumers want functional dairy products

Older US consumers are looking for dairy products with their nutritional benefits. The elderly want products with calcium to help maximize healthy bone strength, as well as riboflavin to maintain good nerve function and limit the risk of cancer, dementia, and heart disease. According to Catherine O’Connor, senior analyst at Canadean, “Bone health is a fundamental need here.  Products that are enriched with extra calcium to help with tooth-retention and prevent from osteoporosis will prove particularly popular. There will also be increasing demand for products containing omega 3 and DHA to maintain brain health.”

Products should be positioned sensitively

Marketers are advised to be sensitive in how they position products to the older population. Dairy food should carry both a preventative and therapeutic message to target healthy consumers and meet the needs of those already suffering from issues such as bone decay. “Manufacturers should communicate the health benefits of products by centering campaigns around keeping active and health maintenance, rather than focusing on older consumers’ vulnerabilities”, adds O’Connor.

Easy-to-open packaging is key

 Manufacturers should consider the packaging requirements of older consumers, whose appetites should be met with smaller packs. As a result, the elderly will require packaging that is lightweight and easy-to-open, particularly those with declining wrist strength or a decreased ability to carry heavier items. For example, packaging brand Shinsen produced caps with “seal and gas flushing technology” that is utilised to maximize dairy products’ shelf life. According to O’Connor: “Packaging manufacturers should innovate with seals that increase shelf life in order to require fewer shopping trips for those who find getting about difficult.”