Protein products market - statistics & facts

Protein product varieties

The different protein sources available are as equally diverse as the variety of people demanding these protein products. Of course, different protein products provide different benefits, and the growth of each protein source provides some indication of the primary market drivers. Whey protein, for example, is a key source of protein for body-building and gym-exercise targeted protein products. It is one of the most popular proteins as it can more easily be absorbed by the human body. This market is responsible for a large part of the projected protein market growth with the whey protein market set to grow to 18.56 billion U.S. dollars in value by 2028.

As whey protein contains dairy, vegans and those with dietary restrictions must look for other sources of protein. Plant-based and soy proteins are the primary meat replacement source for those types of consumers. By 2022, retail sales of soy and vegetable proteins in the United States were forecasted to amount to 870 and 178 million U.S. dollars respectively. For vegans, the preference towards plant-based and soy proteins allows the industry to kill two birds with one stone without involving any birds at all.

The American protein market

The United States is a large part of the worldwide proteins market, breaching the 7 billion dollar figure in 2020. The characteristics of this market seem to reflect the high paced, on-the-go lifestyle many Americans favor. Sports drinks, sports protein powder and energy bars dominate the product category analysis. These products, however, often have a higher price per gram compared to other protein sources, signifying that Americans do not mind paying for this convenience. This may be a reflection of the strong presence of sports users in the market, as well as reflecting the on-the-go takeaway culture in American consumerism. Analysts expect this trend to continue and result in large gains in the sports protein powders market in the United States.

Consumer attitutde towards protein products

The dominance of the exercise-focused consumers over vegetarians in the industry is clearly outlined by the sales value of whey protein products. With this being said, however, consumers cite several reasons other than diet or fitness as to why they prefer plant-based protein sources compared to meat protein. Taste and texture were the two largest factors. Protein consumption in the United States, like many other things in 2020, was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost a quarter of consumers reported that they were eating less meat than usual, while another quarter claimed that they were eating more plant-based protein than normal. Though no matter their intake method of choice, many consumers believe that protein products are the least likely to cause weight gain. In the future, protein products will remain an important part of the diets of American consumers, whether they are more focused on their dietary intake or fitness.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.