Europe Protein - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Europe Protein Market size is estimated at 6.37 billion USD in 2025, and is expected to reach 8.13 billion USD by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.00% during the forecast period (2025-2030).

The rising number of vegan and flexitarian populations with emerging indulgence toward natural products is boosting segmental growth

• By application, the food and beverage industry led the region's protein market, accounting for a major volume share. The share was highly influenced by the dairy- and meat-alternative industries that accounted for 38.67% of the overall proteins consumed in the food and beverage industry in the region in 2023. The share is primarily driven by the rising number of vegan and flexitarian consumers who increasingly rely on or are open to animal-free product offerings. The vegan population in Italy increased from 1.3% in 2022 to 2.4% in 2023. The food and beverage segment is anticipated to register a volume CAGR of 4.31% from 2024 to 2029.
• Plant proteins account for a major share of the animal feed segment and are anticipated to register the fastest growth rate of 4.27% by value from 2024 to 2029. This is largely due to growing government initiatives in the plant protein segment. For instance, in 2023, EU member states joined forces to call for a continent-wide plant protein strategy, which they say is needed "more than ever" in light of the war in Ukraine. This European strategy would bolster the already existing commitment of the EU executive, which, in a 2018 report, called for the development of plant proteins in the European Union.
• By value, among all the end-user segments, the personal care and cosmetics segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth rate in terms of value of 5.43% from 2024 to 2029. The emerging indulgence toward natural products with rising interest in the list of ingredients is highly driving the market's growth. As of 2023, around 64% of new cosmetic product launches in Italy had natural and/or sustainable claims.

The growing demand for healthy food across the region is driving the market, dominated by Russia, France, and Rest of Europe

• The rise in the trend of veganism and the vegetarian population is driving the demand for plant proteins in countries such as Belgium and Austria. About one-third of the population in Belgium consumed vegetarian burgers in 2022. For the uninitiated, over 25.8% of residents in Austria were flexitarian in 2022, driving the consumption of protein foods.
• Russia remained one of the largest protein consumer in the region. Product developments, government initiatives, investments, and high demand from the food and beverage industry drove this demand. Among all protein types, the country's protein consumption is largely driven by the plant protein segment, with a market share of 85.27% by volume in 2023. The market is witnessing high demand for animal-free protein alternatives, with a growing number of vegetarians in the country. Soy protein dominates consumption in the country, with a value share of 58.95% by volume of all the plant proteins in 2023.
• France is one of the fastest growing market during 2024 to 2029, registering a CAGR of 4.9% by volume. The country's protein consumption is largely driven by the meat and meat alternatives segment, with a growing preference for plant-based meat products among consumers. The country has a growing vegan and vegetarian population, largely driving the segmental growth. For instance, a study conducted by Deliveroo, a food delivery service, in collaboration with the polling institute YouGov in December 2022, surveyed 1,030 French adults aged 18 and over. The results revealed that more than a quarter of French people (26%) expressed willingness to try veganism for a month.

Europe Protein Market Trends

The growing consumption of animal protein fuels opportunities for key players in the ingredients category

• In the United Kingdom, from 2016 to 2019, the average daily protein intake of individuals aged 19-64 years was 76 g per person, which was more than the 64 g/day average adult daily requirement. This number was calculated using a reference intake value of 0.83 g/kg of body weight per day. The average daily consumption of animal protein per person is projected to be 39.6 g, with 25.9 g coming from meat and meat products and 9.9 g from milk and milk products. Accordingly, the total domestic milk production has risen. Less than 7% of the domestic production is exported, thereby providing easy access to manufacturers.
• The market for whey protein is mainly driven by the growing popularity of fitness centers and health clubs, leading to a rise in whey consumption. The annual whey protein import increased exponentially by 15.09% in 2021 from 2019. However, with a great focus on overall health and consumers' interest in clean-label products, the sports nutrition industry's demand for natural ingredients has been growing. Ingredients, such as organic and grass-fed whey, have gained prominence due to health and ethical concerns.
• Women seek sports nutrition supplements for lean body, strength, and performance. Encouragement from nutritionists and other fitness experts is also boosting the market sentiment for sports nutrition in the region. Growing veganism, demand for plant-based products, and changing dietary preferences among consumers are being witnessed globally. The low inclination toward meat-based products is visible among consumers, which is a major restraining factor for the animal protein market. The number of vegans in Europe doubled from 1.3 million to 2.6 million, representing 3.2% of the population in 2021.

Meat and milk production contributes majorly in terms of raw material for plant protein manufacturers

• The graph given depicts the production data for raw materials such as meat of cattle, pigs, and chicken (with bone, fresh or chilled), raw milk from cattle and goats, skim milk from cows, and dry whey powder. Germany is the leading producer of milk in the European Union, accounting for more than 21% of milk deliveries in the European Union in 2020. Although the country has been observing a decline in the count of cattle farms, the average size of the farms is witnessing an upsurge. The rise in milk production is attributed to the escalated volume of milk production per cow. Over the years, milk production has been concentrated in the grassland regions of northwestern and southern Germany.
• Milk production is constantly rising in the United Kingdom despite the continuous decline in the number of dairy cows. As of December 2022, the total number of dairy cows in the United Kingdom that were greater than 12 months old stood at 2.66 million heads. In the same year, milk production per cow amounted to 8,169 liters per annum, an increase of 3.5% compared to 7,893 liters in 2017.
• In 2020, there were over 76 million cattle in the European Union (EU), and beef production reached 6.8 million tonnes, making the European Union the world's third-largest producer after the United States and Brazil. The sector is diverse in terms of herd size, farm structure, and geographical distribution of farms in the European Union. Three EU member states alone produce half of the EU's beef: France (21.2%), Germany (17.8%), and Italy (11.1%).

Europe Protein Industry Overview

The Europe Protein Market is fragmented, with the top five companies occupying 28.53%. The major players in this market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, Darling Ingredients Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., Kerry Group plc and Royal FrieslandCampina N.V (sorted alphabetically).

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