The North America Food Automation Market is expected to experience significant growth between 2025 and 2035, driven by increasing adoption of advanced automation technologies across food processing and packaging sectors. The integration of smart robotics, SCADA, and PLC systems is streamlining operations, improving process efficiency, and supporting higher food safety standards. With rising labor costs and stringent regulatory requirements, manufacturers are leveraging automation for quality control, traceability, and operational consistency. The market, valued at USD 9,250 million in 2025, is forecast to reach USD 21,420 million by 2035, at a CAGR of 8.5%. The US leads regional demand, supported by robust industrial infrastructure and innovation.
Latest Market Dynamics
Key Drivers
Rising Demand for Processed and Packaged Foods: In 2025, consumer demand for convenient, ready-to-eat products is compelling manufacturers to automate processes. For example, Nestlé USA expanded its deployment of
PLCs to boost production throughput and efficiency.
Labor Shortages and Rising Labor Costs: Persistent workforce shortages and increasing wages are accelerating automation adoption. Tyson Foods implemented ABB Robotics in multiple plants in 2024 to address labor scarcity and enhance operational continuity.
Key Trends
Integration of AI-driven Visual Inspection Systems: Companies like ABB and Siemens introduced AI-based vision solutions in 2024, ensuring real-time quality monitoring and reducing contamination risks.
Growth of Modular and Scalable Automation: Flexible modular systems allow small and medium plants to scale up automation incrementally. B&R Industrial Automation launched scalable solutions for midsize North American food processors in July 2024.
Key Opportunities
Adoption of Robotics Across Packaging and Palletizing: As deployment costs fall, players like Fanuc and Yaskawa see increased demand for robotic solutions in packaging and end-of-line palletizing.
Sustainability-Driven Automation Investments: Companies are turning to automation to optimize resource use and minimize waste. Danfoss Group's energy-efficient drives, rolled out across North American bakery plants in 2024, exemplify this trend.
Key Challenges
Integration Complexities with Legacy Systems: Many food manufacturers still operate older machines, posing challenges for seamless automation upgrades. Schneider Electric is supporting phased migration for dairy firms in Canada.
High Upfront Investment Costs: Despite long-term benefits, initial automation investments remain a barrier for many SMEs. Initiatives from Omron to offer financing solutions aim to bridge this gap.
Key Restraints
Data Security and Cyber Risks: Increased connectivity of automation tools exposes food plants to potential cyber threats, prompting companies like Honeywell to develop advanced OT cybersecurity solutions in 2024.
Skill Gap in Automation Technologies: The need for specialized workforce to operate and maintain advanced systems remains a challenge despite ongoing upskilling efforts from Emerson Electric.
North America Food Automation Market Share by Type, 2025
Motors & Generators account for the largest share of the food automation market by type, owing to their integral role in powering assembly lines and automated equipment. Visual Inspection Systems and Discrete Controllers & Visualization follow, reflecting growing emphasis on real-time quality control and efficient process monitoring. As manufacturers invest in modernizing their plants, demand for high-efficiency motors and advanced inspection technologies continues to climb, helping to minimize downtime and reduce defects.
North America Food Automation Market Share by Applications, 2025
Packaging leads the applications segment in the North America Food Automation market, representing the highest market share in 2025. This dominance is driven by the critical need for automated packaging solutions to enhance speed, hygiene, and traceability. Processing and Palletizing follow, propelled by the increasing complexity of manufacturing operations and the push for labor cost reductions. Automated applications, especially in sorting & grading, are gaining importance as producers focus on delivering consistent quality, optimizing resource utilization, and meeting stricter food safety regulations.
North America Food Automation Market Revenue (USD Million), 2020-2035
The revenue of the North America Food Automation market is projected to grow steadily from USD 7,320 million in 2020 to USD 21,420 million by 2035. This robust expansion highlights substantial investments by food manufacturers in state-of-the-art automation solutions to enhance productivity and profitability. Annual revenue growth accelerates after 2025 as labor shortages and regulatory pressures push food processors to adopt new technologies. The integration of robotics, advanced PLCs, and intelligent MES systems is expected to drive revenue gains across all major North American economies.
North America Food Automation Market YOY (%), 2020–2035
Year-over-year growth in the North America Food Automation market is expected to peak at 8.9% in 2025, driven by post-pandemic modernization accelerations and fresh rounds of capital investments. Growth rates are projected to moderate to around 8% annually toward 2030 as the market reaches greater maturity, with innovation and replacement cycles sustaining momentum. The food automation segment demonstrates relative stability against market volatility, cementing its appeal for manufacturers aiming to secure operational resilience.
North America Food Automation Market Share by Region, 2025
The United States commands the lion’s share of the North America Food Automation market, accounting for over 65% of total regional revenue in 2025. Its leadership is attributed to a large installed manufacturing base, strong technology adoption, and substantial investments in food safety compliance. Canada follows, benefiting from robust processed food exports, while Mexico is rapidly expanding, leveraging nearshoring and growing domestic demand for processed foods. The regional spread also reflects differing regulatory pressures and automation investment cycles across North America.
North America Food Automation Market Share by Players, 2025
Rockwell Automation secures the largest market share within North America’s food automation space due to its extensive product portfolio and deep-rooted industry presence. ABB Group and Siemens AG closely follow, leveraging their strong automation expertise and ongoing innovation. Other major players, such as Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, and Fanuc, maintain solid positions through targeted solutions and strategic partnerships. The top five companies collectively account for nearly two-thirds of the total market, indicating a highly consolidated competitive landscape.
North America Food Automation Market Share by Buyers, 2025
Large enterprises constitute the majority of buyers in the North America Food Automation market, responsible for 54% market share in 2025, as their extensive scale drives the need for automated solutions across vast production operations. Medium-sized companies are steadily increasing investments as modular offerings become more accessible, while small firms are gradually adopting automation with the help of value-added resellers and system integrators. The evolving landscape underscores growing awareness among smaller manufacturers about the benefits of automating food production processes.
Study Coverage
Metrics
Details
Years
2020-2035
Base Year
2025
Market Size
Revenue (USD Million)
Regions
US, Canada, Mexico
Segments
By Type (Motors & Generators, Motors, Discrete Controllers & Visualization, Rotary Products, Linear Products, Visual Inspection Systems, Others), By Application (Packaging, Palletizing, Processing, Sorting & Grading, Pick & Place, Others), By Technology (SCADA, PLC, DCS, MES, HMI, Robotics), By Distribution Channels (Direct Sales, Distributors, System Integrators, Online Sales, Value-Added Resellers, Others), By Organization Size (Small, Medium, Large)
June 2024: ABB launches new FlexPicker robot for high-speed food packaging lines in North America.
July 2024: Siemens unveils AI-backed vision inspection suite for bakery and confectionery factories.
August 2024: Rockwell Automation partners with Nestlé USA to roll out advanced PLC-driven automation across new facilities.
August 2024: B&R Industrial Automation introduces modular automation kits for mid-tier food manufacturers in Canada.
September 2024: Danfoss Group supplies energy-efficient drives to a large US-based bakery chain, supporting sustainability efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Lily
Senior Market Research Analyst
Lily is a Senior Market Research Analyst specializing in market research, industry analysis, and business consulting across Semiconductor & Electronics. Lily brings a commercially grounded perspective to sectors shaped by changing demand, innovation, and competitive dynamics, helping turn complex market trends into clear strategic insights for business decision-makers. With 10+ years of experience across research, analytics, and strategic advisory roles, Lily has helped organizations translate data into actionable growth strategies.
