Top Protein Ingredients Companies – Global Market Overview
13 May, 2025

Top Protein Ingredients Companies – Global Market Overview

Protein foods, derived from animals, plants, and microbes, are important for the development of muscles, repair of tissue, and general body functioning. Some of the most common proteins are whey, casein, soy, pea, rice, and hemp, each having its own set of advantages depending on amino acid composition and digestibility. These proteins enrich food and beverage nutrition, including protein bars, shakes, dairy products, snacks, and meat alternatives, for healthy-conscious consumers, athletes, vegetarians, and people with food allergies. Protein ingredients also complement functional foods with goals for muscle repair, weight control, and overall health. With the increasing demand for plant-based diets, plant-based protein consumption is increasing, providing a substitute for conventional animal-based proteins and being used in vegan and vegetarian food products. The market size of protein ingredients worldwide was US$ 50.31 billion in 2024 and is expected to surpass US$ 89.21 billion during 2033, with a CAGR of 6.57% during 2025-2033.

European Protein Ingredients Market Overview

The European protein ingredients market is growing as a result of various drivers such as growing health trends, increasing demand for plant-based proteins, sports nutrition, technological development, and supporting sustainable agriculture. People are opting for high-protein diets for weight management, muscle maintenance, and overall wellbeing, fueled by wellbeing focus. The plant-based diet movement, encompassing veganism and flexitarianism, has propelled the demand for plant-based proteins like pea, soy, and wheat. Moreover, growth in the sports nutrition market, driven by a rise in participation in fitness activities, has contributed to increased demand for protein supplements. The demand is also being spurred by environmental factors, aging populations, and advancements in protein extraction technologies. The European market for protein ingredients is anticipated to expand to US$ 23.83 billion by 2033 from US$ 14.17 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.95% during the period between 2025 and 2033.

US Alternative Protein Market Overview

Alternative protein ingredients are non-traditional ingredients from plant sources, insects, algae, fungi, and cultured cells. The proteins are environmentally friendly alternatives to animal proteins that are used regularly in meat and dairy substitutes as well as in protein supplements. Some of the most popular alternative protein sources include soy, peas, lentils, chickpeas, mycoprotein, and precision-fermented proteins. They give the necessary nutrients while lowering the environmental footprint attached to traditional meat production.

In the USA, there is increasing demand for alternative protein ingredients driven by increased health awareness, environmental sustainability, and ethics of animal welfare. Increased consumer adoption of plant-based diets like vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian has also driven demand for plant-based proteins. Food companies are investing substantially in research and development to formulate high-quality, tasty, and healthy protein alternatives. In addition, restaurant chains and food retailers are increasing their sales of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, and alternative proteins are becoming more mainstream. With increased innovation and consumer acceptance, the US Alternative Protein Ingredients Market should grow to USD 20.79 billion by 2033, from USD 7.11 billion in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.72% from 2025 to 2033.

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List of top protein ingredient companies in 2025

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Foundation: 1902

Headquarters: United States

Website: www.adm.com

Archer Daniels Midland Co (ADM) engages in the production, processing, transportation, storage, and merchandising of agricultural commodities and ingredients. The company produces a variety of food and beverage ingredients, as well as products that are derived from oilseeds, corn, wheat, and other grains. Its products include natural flavors and colors, nutrition and wellness products, vegetable oils, corn-based sweeteners, flour, animal feed, and biofuels. ADM has a worldwide logistics and grain elevator system to store and transport agricultural products like oilseeds, corn, wheat, milo, oats, and barley. ADM also offers services in farming, logistics, and transportation, with a worldwide presence in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc

Founding: 1802

Headquarters: United States of America

Website: www.dupont.com

DuPont de Nemours Inc (DuPont), previously DowDuPont Inc, offers technology-enabled materials and innovative solutions to different industries. DuPont offers advanced materials and printing systems to the printing industry, as well as end-to-end solutions for semiconductor and integrated circuit manufacturing, including front-end and back-end processes. Its diverse product portfolio consists of adhesives, biomaterials, electronic solutions, fabrics, fibers and nonwovens, construction materials, resins, industrial films, food and beverage ingredients, and medical devices. DuPont serves a wide variety of industries, such as automotive, electronics, building and construction, aerospace, energy, textiles, medical, personal care, and packaging and printing.

MGP Ingredients

Founding: 1941

Headquarters: United States of America

Website: www.mgpingredients.com

MGP Ingredients Inc (MGP) is a distiller and distributor of branded and distilled spirits, specialty wheat proteins, and starch-based food ingredients. Its spirits business has bourbon, rye whiskey, and grain neutral spirits like vodka and gin. MGP distributes products under well-established brands like Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Saint Brendan's, Pearl Vodka, Lord Calvert, Arrow Cordials, Canada House, and Lady Bligh Rum. The firm provides its spirits and ingredient solutions to food and beverage manufacturers and processors in the packaged foods and bakery industries through a network of distributors. MGP has markets in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, and the UK.

Kerry Group plc

Formation: 1972

Head Office: Ireland

Website: www.kerry.com

Kerry Group plc (Kerry Group) provides functional and nutritional solutions for the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. Its broad product portfolio includes flavors, enzymes, lipids, fermented ingredients, protein fractions, probiotics, biopreservatives, metabolites, and other bioactive compounds. The company also offers chilled foods, dairy flavorings, texturants, taste modulators, and sweet and savory ingredients. Kerry sells its products under brands including DaVinci Gourmet, Big Train, Golden Dipt, and Island Oasis. The company sells through retailers, convenience stores, and the internet, with a worldwide presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Tessenderlo

Founding: 1919

Head office: Belgian

Website: https://www.tessenderlo.com/en

Tessenderlo Group is a diversified industrial group based in Belgium, mainly involved in agriculture, bio-residual valorization, and industrial solutions. The company has different business segments such as Agro, Bio-Valorization, and Industrial Solutions. In the Agro business segment, Tessenderlo sells crop nutrition and irrigation systems to grow agricultural yield. The Bio-Valorization segment is involved in the processing of animal by-products into gelatins and proteins to be used in the food, pharmaceutical, and various industries. The Industrial Solutions segment sells water treatment chemicals, plastic pipe systems, and other industrial chemicals. Tessenderlo is focused on sustainability and innovation throughout its businesses with a goal of optimizing the use of resources and minimizing environmental footprint. Being globally present, the company is servicing customers across more than 100 countries across production sites and sales offices across the globe.

CHS Inc.

Founding: 1931

Head Office: United States of America

Website: www.chsinc.com

CHS Inc. is a top integrated agri-business company with headquarters in the United States of America and functions as a farmers', ranchers', and affiliated cooperatives' owned cooperative. The firm delivers key agribusiness services and products through a variety of business sectors ranging from agronomy, energy, grain marketing, to food processing. CHS provides farm inputs such as crop nutrients, crop protection products, and fuels, and outputs such as grains, oilseeds, and food processing ingredients. The company is also engaged in renewable fuels and has its own refineries and pipeline system for refined fuels, propane, and lubricants. With both domestic and international operations, CHS has a crucial role to play in bridging the gap between agricultural producers and world food, feed, and fuel markets.

Crop Energies AG.

Formation: 2006

Headquarters: Germany

Website: https://www.cropenergies.com/de/

CropEnergies AG is one of the major European manufacturers of renewable ethanol for the fuel industry, food business, and industrial uses. With headquarters in Mannheim, Germany, the company has production facilities in Germany, Belgium, the UK, and France. CropEnergies is a company with a special focus on the sustainable conversion of raw materials from agriculture like cereals and sugar beets into the bioethanol, a cleaner-burning fuel alternative to fossil fuels. Besides ethanol, CropEnergies manufactures high-protein animal feed, liquefied CO? for use in the beverages and industrial industries, and other biogenic co-products. Caring about the environment, CropEnergies contributes to the EU's climate objectives by lowering greenhouse gas emissions through its bio-based products. Being a subsidiary of Südzucker AG, it derives the advantage of robust agricultural and industrial integration and contributes to accelerating innovation in the bioeconomy of Europe.

Glanbia Plc

Founding: 1997

Head Office: Ireland

Website: https://www.glanbia.com

Glanbia Plc is a worldwide dietary supplement firm that engages in the manufacture and sale of a broad range of nutritional goods. Its line of products features protein powders, protein bars, dairy and non-dairy nutritional ingredients, animal feeds, beverages, cheese, vitamins, sauces, and spreads, among others. The firm sells its products through a number of channels, including specialty retail, e-commerce websites, and gyms. Glanbia has a portfolio of established brands, including Optimum Nutrition, BSN, Isopure, Nutramino, think!, Amazing Grass, and Body & Fit. With a significant presence in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, Glanbia is dedicated to providing innovative nutritional solutions to its global diverse customer base.