Foods for Long-Term Care, Elderly Care, and Therapeutic Diets

Suppliers of Foods for Long-Term Care, Elderly Care, and Therapeutic Diets

The report systematically analyzes the structural changes that accompany an aging society and the market outlook through 2030.
As the domestic food industry faces structural changes, markets for nursing care meals, meals for the elderly, and meals for the sick are emerging as key sectors expected to experience medium- to long-term growth. However, current market trends extend beyond population growth alone. The sector is undergoing a major transformation driven by institutional and environmental changes, including severe labor shortages in institutional meal services and medical settings, a shift toward home-based medical care and home-based nursing care, as well as the 2026 medical fee revision (which introduced a new special meal surcharge of 76 yen per meal for dysphagia-modified diets) and the widespread adoption of the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria.
Market participants are required to go beyond responding to traditional nutrient limitation and feeding. They are required to restructure business strategies to solve on-site challenges, such as labor-saving, simplified kitchen operations and higher nutritional value and higher value to prevent low nutrition. 
This report systematically analyzes the market status and its future trends through original studies and face-to-face interviews with 71 leading businesses by our expert researches who have been involved in researching healthcare and food industries. The report encompasses market size forecast, adoption of ready-to-serve products in facilities' food serving settings, and the impacts of the latest system revisions. It servies as solid, objective data for business planning and investment decisions.

I. Key Market Trends

1. Growing attention to foods for long-term care, elderly care, and therapeutic diets
2. The status of Japan's food market and its food support needs amid an aging society and a surge in single-person households.
3. A shift in elder care from hospitals and facilities to home-based care
4. Sarcopenia, frailty, and locomotive syndrome garnering attention
5. Market expansion of "universal design food"
6. The usage and challenges of "Smile Care Foods," (a type of food for the elderly promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF))
7. Nutritional management guidelines for the elderly at home and activities of the Japan Nutrition Support Food Derivery Conference's (NSD)
8. Prominence gained by frozen bento home delivery among home meal delivery services
9. Growing attention to preventive care foods and nutrient-fortified foods
10. The increased variety of thick liquid foods
11. Current status and changes in meal provision at hospitals and elderly care facilities
12. The impact of the FY2026 medical fee revision and the creation of nutrition-related programs
13. Changes in low-nutrition diagnosis using the GLIM criteria
14. The growing adoption of ready-to-serve meals and meal packs, driven by labor shortages
15. Rising food and labor costs versus price pass-through and value addition
16. Future perspectives of foods for long-term care, elderly care, and therapeutic diets

II. Market Analysis of Long-Term Care Foods

1. Market Trends
   　　1) Meals for people who have difficulty swallowing
   　　2) Meals for people who have difficulty chewing
   　　3) Thick liquid foods
2. Trends in Market Players
   　　1) Processed food manufacturers
   　　2) Meal delivery companies
   　　3) Food home delivery service providers
3. Product Trends
   　　1) Meals for people who have difficulty swallowing (thickening and gelling agents,
                dessert bases, and hydration jellies)
   　　2) Meals for people who have difficulty chewing (soft foods, blender-prepared
                meals, desserts, and food paste that resembles real root vegetables, fish, etc.)
   　　3) Thick liquid foods
4. Transition of Market Size (FY2021-FY2025)
5. Market Share by Category (FY2025)
6. Problems and Challenges
7. Future Market Perspectives
8. Forecast of Market Size (FY2026-FY2030)

III. Market Analysis of Elderly Care Foods

1. Market Trends
2. Trends in Market Players
   　　1) Processed food manufacturers
   　　2) Meal delivery companies
   　　3) Food home delivery service providers
3. Product Trends
   　　1) Preventive care foods
   　　2) Healthy, balanced foods for the elderly (food home delivery services)
4. Transition of Market Size (FY2021-FY2025)
5. Market Share by Category (FY2025)
6. Problems and Challenges
7. Future Market Perspectives
8. Forecast of Market Size (FY2026-FY2030)

IV. Market Analysis of Foods for Therapeutic Diets

1. Market Trends
   　　1) Meals for hospitalized patients and for the elderly in long-term care facilities
   　　2) Food home delivery services
   　　3) Processed foods
2. Trends in Market Players
   　　1) Processed food manufacturers
   　　2) Meal delivery companies
   　　3) Food home delivery service providers
3. Product Trends
   　　1) "Protein modified" foods (including meals for those with salt restrictions)
   　　2) "Energy modified" foods (including meals for those with restrictions on salt,
                   sugar, or fat)
4. Transition of Market Size (FY2021-FY2025)
5. Market Share by Category (FY2025)
6. Problems and Challenges
7. Future Market Perspectives
8. Forecast of Market Size (FY2026-FY2030)

V. Profiles of Leading Suppliers

• Food processor/manufacturer & wholesaler:　39 companies
• Meal service & food home delivery services: 32 companies