France Protein Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2025-2034)

France Protein Market Growth

The expanding sports industry is a key driver for the expansion of the protein market, primarily due to rising demand from athletes, fitness trainers, and individuals engaged in casual workouts. Protein products and supplements such as shakes, bars, and powders help in their muscle recovery, performance, and overall health management, thereby maintaining fitness and desirable body composition. The demand for the France protein market is growing, with industry reports indicating that 60% of the French population participated in physical activities and sports once a week on average in 2022, marking a 4% rise over four years. As more people engage themselves in such activities during the coming years, the demand for protein supplements in France is expected to witness a sharp surge.

Another emerging trend in the France protein market is the growing popularity of protein products for individuals diagnosed with anaemia and protein deficiency. These include products such as pea, quinoa, and hemp protein, which naturally or through processing contains all nine amino acids, providing a full range of essential nutrients that the human body needs. Royal DSM, a German company with a sizeable market in France, announced the launch of Vertis CanolaPRO, a high-quality, allergen-free canola protein isolate containing all nine essential amino acids necessary to produce plant-based food and beverage.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

France Protein Market Trends

Public investment and government support, especially in the development of sustainable protein sources, are significantly boosting the France protein market expansion. These sources are expected to meet the future demand for protein in the country but also reduce the overall carbon footprint as per national and international goals. Besides, they are highly scalable and cost-effective, making the market more affordable to consumers. The French Agriculture Minister and the Secretary of State for Industry signed an agreement with the Protein France Industry Consortium in November 2023, to invest EUR 1 billion worth of funds into the research and development of ‘future proteins’ such as microalgae and insects.

France Protein Industry Segmentation

France Protein Market Share

Plant-based proteins account for the largest share, driven by the increasing awareness of rice protein health benefits

According to the France protein market analysis, plant-based proteins dominate the market, and are expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period, largely due to the increasing awareness of their health benefits and sustainability. These proteins cater to a wide range of consumers, with varied food consumption habits such as non-vegetarians, vegetarians, and vegans, but also offer complete nutritional profiles, despite being ethically and organically sourced from the agriculture and forestry sectors. Lately, rice protein has gained popularity among consumers due to its high digestibility, hypoallergenic properties, and complete amino acid profile, serving as an ideal choice for individuals with dietary restrictions or sensitivities. Roquette expanded its product portfolio with the launch of two rice proteins, a concentrate, and an isolate, under its Nutralys brand, in June 2022.

The growth of the France protein market has been driven by increasing investments in microbial protein production, particularly by protein manufacturers, owing to its sustainability, cost-efficiency, and scalability. Microbial proteins produce maximum yields while using minimal natural resources, such as land and water. For instance, French company Edonia, a leader in the development of protein ingredients derived from microalgae, secured EUR 2 million worth of investment in its initial funding round held in April 2024 and led by Asterion Ventures, with additional support from BPI.

Food and beverages sector is fuelling the protein demand growth

According to the France protein market report, France boasts a strong and dynamic food industry, with an output valued at USD 211 billion in 2023. Retail sales during the same period reached USD 394 billion, driven by increased food consumption and the diverse eating habits of a broad range of consumers. For instance, while vegans and vegetarians prefer plant-based protein sources due to their natural origin, others prefer animal-based sources owing to their high nutritional value. Considering their age, young consumers are often inclined towards protein products such as bars and shakes, while older individuals tend to favour, concentrates, and isolates as convenient to consume due to their easy mixability with food ingredients. Such diverse protein needs are driving the growth of the France protein market.

Besides human nutrition, the demand for the France protein market is also surging in animal nutrition, driven by wide applications in the animal feed manufacturing sector. This is further fuelled by the rising poultry exports, which, according to the World Bank, exceeded USD 102 billion in 2023. Protein-rich feed ingredients, such as soy and fishmeal, and alternative proteins derived from insect and microbial sources efficiently meet the nutritional requirements of animals, thereby enhancing productivity in the country’s livestock sector.

France Protein Market Regional Analysis

The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, particularly the city of Lyon, is witnessing an increasing demand for protein products with a complete amino acid nutritional profile to serve its increasingly ageing population, which, according to the data from the local government, was estimated at 18% of the total population in 2021. These protein products support the elderly in maintaining muscle mass, bone health, and overall well-being efficiently, despite their irregular or reduced consumption of traditional protein sources such as eggs and meat.

Additionally, the growing popularity of sustainable protein sources such, as insect proteins, in the Hauts-de-France region is significantly contributing to the France protein market expansion. The region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. These sources are extremely affordable for consumers, offering high yields while using fewer natural resources, such as land and water for production. To capitalise on their growing demand, key market players are expanding their insect protein production sites in the region, aiming for revenue growth and long-term stability. For instance, Innovafeed, a global producer of insect protein for animal feed and aquafeed, completed the construction of its production site in Nesle, spanning over a floor area of 55,000 square metres in July 2024.

Competitive Landscape

The France protein market key players are increasing their scope across several industries such as human nutrition, animal nutrition, and sports nutrition to raise their overall revenue. Besides, they are striving towards making their portfolio inclusive of a variety of consumers, including vegans, vegetarians, and the growing ageing population.

Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.

Headquartered in Amersfoort, Netherlands, Royal FrieslandCampina is a leading international dairy brand, operating as a farmer’s cooperative across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Its product portfolio includes a wide variety of affordable dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yoghurt, which are sold in over 100 countries globally. The company operates its production sites at 29 global locations around the globe.

Cargill, Inc.

It was founded in 1865 and is headquartered in Minnesota, United States. It is a major participant i...

Kerry Group Plc

It is a leading brand in the food and pharmaceutical manufacturing industries. It operates more than...

Arla Foods amba

It is a leading global dairy brand, operated as a farmer’s cooperative with members across Europe....

*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 in the France protein market report are SAS Gelatines Weishardt, Symrise AG, Tereos SCA, nextProtein SA, Groupe Lactalis, and Roquette Frères S.A., among others.