The Europe protein market was valued at USD 6.24 Billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.40% from 2025 to 2034, potentially reaching USD 10.56 Billion by 2034. Organic products are primarily preferred due to their 100% natural origin and no scope of added synthetic ingredients that could potentially harm consumer health or deteriorate the product quality.
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Historical Year
Forecast Year
The growth of the sports sector is a key driver for the growth of the Europe protein market. Official estimates show that there were around 182,000 sports enterprises in the EU region in 2021, representing 0.6% of all businesses. They collectively generated EUR 25 billion in value-added, and EUR 48 billion in turnover during the same period. With rising fitness awareness and greater emphasis on promoting sports activities, these values are expected to rise further, increasing the demand for premium protein supplements among athletes.
Additionally, the demand for protein products is growing in the baby foods industry, driven by increasing childbirths and the need for their nutritional development. In 2022, nearly 3.88 million babies were born in the EU, with a fertility rate of 1.46 live births per woman. The growing young population is further expected to raise the number of childbirths in the region, boosting the demand for protein ingredients in baby food and driving overall Europe protein market growth.
Value in USD Billion
2025-2034
Europe Protein Market Outlook
*this image is indicative*
The preference for vegan products, new flavour innovations, and the growing popularity of alternative proteins are impacting the Europe protein market revenue.
Growing health concerns and changing food consumption patterns are increasing the demand for organic protein products, thus creating a positive impact on the Europe protein market value. Organic products are primarily preferred due to their 100% natural origin and no scope of added synthetic ingredients that could potentially harm consumer health or deteriorate the product quality. As a result, key players are focusing more on the development of organic products to ensure future growth and market stability. In February 2024, Switzerland-based multinational Nestle launched its first animal-free whey isolate protein powder, Better Whey, made from precision fermentation technology under its Orgain brand.
The development of innovative flavours has enhanced the consumer preference for protein products, thereby driving long-term market growth. These flavours are being infused in almost all consumable protein products such as shakes, powders, snacks, and candy bars, thus raising their appeal and nutritional value at the same time for a wide range of consumers, including adults, children, and professional athletes. Contributing to the trend, PEEPS and BodyTech partnered to launch a limited-edition Peeps-flavoured whey protein isolate in marshmallow and chocolate marshmallow flavours, specifically for Europe’s fitness freaks in March 2023.
Shifting food consumption patterns and the rapid conversion of meat eaters to vegetarian and vegan lifestyles are enhancing the popularity of several non-vegetarian protein substitutes and alternatives. These options not only provide the same nutritional benefits as the concerned animal protein but also serve the purpose of ethical sourcing. Most of them are plant-based and 100% natural in origin, available without the addition of any synthetic additives and preservatives commonly found in eggs and meat. For instance, US-based company Eat Just, which holds a sizeable market in Europe, introduced a plant-based egg alternative, mung bean protein and received approval for the commercial launch in April 2022.
Rising environmental concerns and the need to reduce the carbon footprint of protein production are significantly fuelling the demand for sustainable protein ingredients such as cultured and lab-grown meat, insect-based proteins, and plant-based proteins, leading to overall Europe protein market growth. These ingredients require fewer natural resources and align with the government’s regulations to reduce the environmental impact of food manufacturing in Europe. To reflect the same, a new mycoprotein-based ultra-sustainable protein source, ABUNDA was launched under the EU-funded Plenitude project in 2023, widely used to create a broad range of clean-label, nutritious, delicious food products.
The expansion of protein production facilities in Europe is playing a crucial role in increasing the overall supply of protein products in the market, thereby positively impacting the revenue growth of key market players. The new facilities are equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced technologies that increase the productivity of the manufacturing process.
Additionally, they reduce the overall cost of production, making protein products more affordable for end consumers in a variety of industrial domains. In September 2023, Cargill, a leading player in the Europe protein market, opened its first European Protein Innovation Hub in France. This new facility formed part of the company’s nearby plan in Orleans, which has been producing chicken specialities for top French and European food service outlets for 30 years.
The EMR’s report titled “Europe Protein Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:
Market Breakup by Type
Market Breakup by End-User
Market Breakup by Country
Whey protein consumption is driving the animal protein market, contributing to the development of the Europe protein market
According to the Europe protein market analysis, the growing consumption of whey protein is expanding the share of the animal protein market in Europe. This growth is primarily driven by its numerous health benefits and its widespread use across various industries, including sports nutrition, functional foods, and dietary supplements. This specific protein type is highly regarded for its complete amino acid profile, which supports muscle growth, recovery, and the overall management of the body mass index (BMI). For instance, microparticulate whey protein, immensely popular among whey protein products, offers enhanced digestibility, better solubility, and a longer-lasting sense of fullness, making it ideal for use in beverages, protein bars, and other functional food products. In September 2024, Arla Foods Ingredients, one of the industry leaders, launched its new Nutrilac ProteinBoost Range made from microparticulated protein.
Plant protein market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% between 2025 and 2034. Pea protein has gained significant popularity among protein manufacturers and consumers. This is primarily due to its impressive nutritional profile, sustainability, and versatile use across several industries. Pea protein is often found to be rich in essential amino acids, particularly lysine, necessary for protein synthesis, tissue repair, calcium absorption, and the production of enzymes as well as hormones. It is highly digestible and hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for consumers with allergies to soy, gluten, or dairy. Recognising these benefits, and the potential demand for pea protein, key industry players such as Roquette launched four multifunctional pea proteins in the European market in February 2024. These included Pea F853M (isolate), H85 (hydrolysate), T Pea 700FL (textured) and T Pea 700M (textured) under the NUTRALYS range of plant-based proteins.
Expansion of the food and beverages industry is increasing the Europe protein market share
According to the Europe protein market report, the food and beverages industry is driving market growth, fueled by the rising population and trends of increasing urbanisation. Besides, the consistent influx of migrants is also a major factor contributing to the same. Latest reports by key stakeholders suggest the industry generated an overall turnover of EUR 1.1 trillion in 2023 with gross value added (GVA) exceeding EUR 229 billion during the period. This indicates a rising demand for protein products in Europe, often used to enhance the nutritional value of both general and specialised food items in the region.
The animal feed industry plays a key role in the Europe protein market, particularly due to innovations that address emerging trends within the sector. For example, many pet owners prefer to feed vegetarian protein products to their pets due to cost-efficiency, easy digestibility, lower environmental impact, and other ethical concerns. This is encouraging companies to develop such products, enhancing the overall inclusivity of their product portfolio. In a similar effort, global protein pioneer, Calysta, targeted the European pet food market with its first major shipment of FeedKind Pet protein, a non-GMO fermented protein with no animal or plant ingredients to Poland in August 2024.
France leads the Europe protein market due to growing food retail sales and exports
France is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% between 2025 and 2034, driven by its increasing food retail sales and exports. According to the US Agriculture Department, food retail sales in the country amounted to USD 394 billion in 2023 whereas exports reached USD 88.9 billion during the same period. The values are further expected to increase due to the rising global demand for baked goods, growing nutritional concerns and the enhanced shipping infrastructure and connectivity development, leading to a high protein demand in the country.
Besides, the UK’s growing food manufacturing sector, driven by changing consumer preferences toward protein-rich diets, health and sustainability concerns, and the rise of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, is also increasing the regional protein demand in Europe. In 2023 food manufacturing remained the largest contributor, accounting for 20.8% of the total manufacturing output in the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, Italy’s rising dairy exports are becoming a significant driver of the Europe protein market growth. The country is renowned for its high-quality dairy products all over the world, including cheese, yoghurt, and other protein ingredients. Industry reports suggest it accounted for nearly 6.3% of the EU’s total dairy exports in 2023. As the share continues to rise, the Europe protein market value is expected to see substantial growth.
The Europe protein market key players are responding to emerging trends across various industries, including food processing, sports nutrition, and dietary supplements, to boost overall market revenue. This includes innovative flavour developments in protein products, the creation of vegan and plant-based options, as well as sustainable microbial alternatives to meat-based proteins.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., is a pioneer in the human and animal nutrition industries, with a significant presence in Europe. Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Chicago, United States, the company is known for developing food ingredients, agricultural products, sustainable materials, plant-based proteins and more.
Cargill, a global leader in food, agriculture and industrial supply chains was founded in 1865 and i...
Kerry Group Plc is a major player in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries, producing...
Established in the 1880s, Arla Foods is headquartered in Vibe, Denmark and is recognised as the fift...
*Please note that this is only a partial list; the complete list of key players is available in the full report. Additionally, the list of key players can be customized to better suit your needs.*
Other key players considered in the Europe protein market report are Glanbia Plc, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Royal FrieslandCampina NV, Südzucker AG, Roquette Frères S.A., SAS Gelatines Weishardt, Symrise AG, and Tereos SCA, among others.
*While we strive to always give you current and accurate information, the numbers depicted on the website are indicative and may differ from the actual numbers in the main report. At Expert Market Research, we aim to bring you the latest insights and trends in the market. Using our analyses and forecasts, stakeholders can understand the market dynamics, navigate challenges, and capitalize on opportunities to make data-driven strategic decisions.*
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In 2024, the market reached an approximate value of USD 6.24 Billion.
The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.40% between 2025 and 2034.
The market is estimated to witness healthy growth in the forecast period of 2025-2034 to reach a value of around USD 10.56 Billion by 2034.
The major drivers of the market are the expanding food and beverage sector, the growing sports industry, and the increasing fertility rates of women in Europe.
The key trends of the market include new flavour innovations, preference for vegan products and the expansion of protein production and processing facilities.
The major countries in the market are the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and others.
The various types considered in the market report are animal, plant, and microbial.
The segments based on end uses in the market report are animal feed, food and beverages, personal care and cosmetics, and supplements.
The major players in the market are Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., Arla Foods AmbA, Cargill Inc., Glanbia Plc, Kerry Group Plc, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Royal FrieslandCampina NV, Südzucker AG, Roquette Frères S.A., SAS Gelatines Weishardt, Symrise AG, and Tereos SCA, among others.
Explore our key highlights of the report and gain a concise overview of key findings, trends, and actionable insights that will empower your strategic decisions.
| REPORT FEATURES | DETAILS |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2018-2024 |
| Forecast Period | 2025-2034 |
| Scope of the Report |
Historical and Forecast Trends, Industry Drivers and Constraints, Historical and Forecast Market Analysis by Segment:
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| Breakup by Type |
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| Breakup by End-User |
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| Breakup by Region |
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| Market Dynamics |
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| Competitive Landscape |
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| Companies Covered |
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United States (Head Office)
30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, WY 82801
+1-415-325-5166
Australia
63 Fiona Drive, Tamworth, NSW
+61-448-061-727
India
C130 Sector 2 Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301
+91-858-608-1494
Philippines
40th Floor, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor V.A Rufino St. Makati City, 1226.
+63-287-899-028, +63-967-048-3306
United Kingdom
6 Gardner Place, Becketts Close, Feltham TW14 0BX, Greater London
+44-753-713-2163
Vietnam
193/26/4 St.no.6, Ward Binh Hung Hoa, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City
+84-865-399-124
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