United Kingdom Plant Protein Market Size and Share

United Kingdom Plant Protein Market (2026 - 2031)
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United Kingdom Plant Protein Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The United Kingdom plant-based protein market size was valued at USD 453.21 million in 2026 and is expected to grow to USD 604.18 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 5.92% during the forecast period. This moderate growth follows a period of rapid expansion characterized by numerous brand launches and increased retailer shelf space. Collaborative efforts between ingredient suppliers and cereal cooperatives have streamlined development cycles for advanced texturates and high-dispersion isolates, enabling brand owners to simplify formulations and reduce capital expenditures. Additionally, updated allergen regulations introduced by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in March 2025 have imposed stricter cross-contact controls, increasing compliance costs and intensifying consolidation pressures on small and mid-sized manufacturers.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By protein type, soy led with 31.09% share in 2025 while pea protein is poised for a 6.36% CAGR through 2031 as the fastest-growing segment across the UK plant-based protein market.
  • By application, food and beverages accounted for 48.95% revenue share in 2025, whereas functional nutrition products are on track for a 7.14% CAGR between 2026 and 2031.

Note: Market size and forecast figures in this report are generated using Mordor Intelligence’s proprietary estimation framework, updated with the latest available data and insights as of January 2026.

Segment Analysis

By Protein Type: Pea Protein Gains on Soy Dominance

Soy protein accounted for 31.09% of the UK market in 2025while pea protein is poised for a 6.36% CAGR through 2031 as the fastest-growing segment across the United Kingdom plant-based protein market, driven by its long-standing use in meat analogs, dairy alternatives, and protein fortification applications. Its functional properties, such as emulsification, gelation, and water-holding capacity, along with cost competitiveness supported by global supply chains, have contributed to its market dominance. Wheat protein (gluten) retains a niche position due to its viscoelastic properties, which enable the creation of fibrous meat-analog textures. However, its allergenic nature (gluten-containing cereals are classified as declarable allergens under FSA regulations) limits its market to non-celiac consumers, restricting broader adoption despite its functional benefits.

Potato and rice proteins are favored for hypoallergenic formulations and neutral sensory profiles, making them suitable for applications in beverages, infant formula, and medical nutrition, where mitigating off-flavors is essential. However, their lower protein density compared to legume proteins necessitates blending or fortification to meet target specifications. Research published in January 2025 highlights advancements in dry fractionation technologies, enabling the sustainable production of functional, nutritional, and palatable grain legume protein ingredients without relying on heavy solvent use. These developments support UK manufacturers in producing clean-label, lower-impact domestic ingredients while improving economic viability through co-product valorization.

United Kingdom Plant Protein Market: Market Share by Protein Type
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By Application: Functional Nutrition Outpaces Food and Beverages

The food and beverages segment accounted for 48.95% of the market share in 2025. This category includes meat alternatives (such as burgers, sausages, and mince), dairy alternatives (milk, yogurt, cheese), bakery products, beverages, breakfast cereals, condiments, sauces, confectionery, and ready-to-eat products where plant proteins are used as primary or supplementary ingredients. The Functional Nutrition segment is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.14% through 2031. In sports nutrition, pea and rice protein blends are gaining traction due to their complete amino acid profiles and rapid absorption. 

Within the food and beverages segment, meat and poultry alternatives face challenges in achieving sensory parity with traditional meat products. Systematic reviews identify taste and texture as key barriers to mainstream adoption. Continued innovation in formulation and processing is necessary to improve consumer acceptance, particularly among meat-eaters, as opposed to committed flexitarians. In the animal feed segment, lower-grade plant protein meals and concentrates are used as partial replacements for soy meal in livestock and aquaculture rations. However, this segment operates under distinct quality specifications and pricing dynamics compared to human food-grade proteins. The personal care and Cosmetics segment represents a niche application for plant proteins. 

United Kingdom Plant Protein Market: Market Share by Application
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Geography Analysis

The United Kingdom market operates within a European framework influenced by EU Commission initiatives aimed at reducing plant protein deficits. These initiatives focus on increasing domestic production, promoting crop diversification, and expanding processing capacities. Policy measures targeting both feed and human food protein markets may impact UK supply chains through trade flows and regional competition. Scotland's scheduled review of livestock feed controls in October 2024 highlights ongoing regulatory developments that could affect the allocation of plant proteins between animal feed and human food applications, potentially influencing the competitiveness of plant-based alternatives.

Regional production in England and Scotland, particularly for arable crops such as pulses and oilseeds, plays a significant role in determining logistics and processing hub locations. Data from "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2024" provides insights into hectares cultivated, tonnes produced, yield per hectare, and regional shares, which are critical for evaluating domestic feedstock availability and associated costs. Urban centers like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh show higher penetration of plant-based products, driven by younger demographics, higher education levels, and greater retail and foodservice availability. These factors position urban areas as key growth markets for premium and innovative plant-protein products.

DEFRA's quantitative review in June 2025 on sustainable novel food production will offer regulatory context and sustainability metrics, influencing UK policy support, investment decisions, and lifecycle assessment frameworks for buyers prioritizing ESG credentials. Trade dynamics with the EU and global markets significantly affect ingredient availability and pricing. The UK's reliance on imports for soy and pea protein concentrates exposes the market to global commodity price volatility and trade-related challenges, such as tariffs and logistics issues. These factors contribute to higher input costs compared to domestically produced animal proteins.

Competitive Landscape

The United Kingdom plant protein market demonstrates moderate concentration, with established multinational companies such as ADM, Cargill, Kerry, Roquette, Ingredion, Glanbia, Tate & Lyle, and DSM-Firmenich dominating ingredient supply chains. These companies leverage global sourcing networks, advanced processing capabilities, and application development expertise.

Opportunities exist in emerging categories like plant-based seafood and egg analogs, which are experiencing faster growth despite lower absolute volumes and fewer established players. These segments present potential entry points for agile innovators capable of addressing formulation complexities and overcoming limited consumer familiarity. Technological advancements are driving differentiation in the market. Key areas include fermentation (e.g., ENOUGH's mycoprotein scale-up, which has attracted interest from major meat companies), precision fermentation for novel proteins and fats, advanced texturization techniques such as high-moisture extrusion and shear-cell technology, and clean-label formulation expertise.

Patent activity highlights ongoing innovation in processing technologies. For instance, patent WO2016172418A3 outlines apparatus and process flows for scalable extraction and purification of plant proteins suitable for food applications. Such advancements could be adopted by UK processors or ingredient suppliers to enhance local value addition and improve product quality.

United Kingdom Plant Protein Industry Leaders

  1. Archer Daniels Midland Company

  2. Cargill Incorporated

  3. Ingredion Incorporated

  4. Kerry Group PLC

  5. Roquette Frères S.A.

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
United Kingdom Plant Protein Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • October 2025: AB Mauri, a prominent supplier of bakery ingredients with an established presence in the UK, has entered into a strategic technical and supply collaboration with Croatian foodtech company Nutris. This partnership aims to develop innovative fava bean-based ingredient solutions for the UK and Ireland. Nutris utilizes an advanced fractionation process to separate fava beans into protein, starch, and fiber fractions, enabling the creation of clean-label, functional plant protein ingredients with enhanced nutritional and performance characteristics.
  • November 2024: Atura, through Deltagen UK, launched ATURA FP80 Organic, a high-protein, low-viscosity fava bean protein isolate. This product is designed for use in beverages, dairy alternatives, snacks, and fortified foods, addressing the growing demand for locally sourced, high-quality plant proteins.
  • May 2024: Roquette introduced NUTRALYS Fava S900M, its first fava bean protein isolate, signifying a notable expansion of its plant protein portfolio in Europe and North America. This ingredient contains 90% protein and features a clean taste, light color, and robust functional properties, including high gel strength, viscosity control, and stability. These attributes make it suitable for applications in meat substitutes, non-dairy alternatives, and baked goods.

Table of Contents for United Kingdom Plant Protein Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Strong shift toward plant-based, vegan, and flexitarian lifestyles
    • 4.2.2 Consumer preferences for clean-label and digestible products
    • 4.2.3 Rising demand for lactose-free protein alternatives
    • 4.2.4 Domestic pulse acreage expansion post-Brexit subsidies
    • 4.2.5 Technological advancements in protein extraction and processing
    • 4.2.6 Rising innovation in new plant protein sources
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Raw material price volatility
    • 4.3.2 Taste, texture, and sensory limitations
    • 4.3.3 Allergenicity and labeling hurdles
    • 4.3.4 Higher production costs compared to conventional proteins
  • 4.4 Supply Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECATS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Protein Type
    • 5.1.1 Hemp Protein
    • 5.1.2 Pea Protein
    • 5.1.3 Potato Protein
    • 5.1.4 Rice Protein
    • 5.1.5 Soy Protein
    • 5.1.6 Wheat Protein
    • 5.1.7 Others Protein
  • 5.2 By Application
    • 5.2.1 Animal Feed
    • 5.2.2 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.2.3 Food and Beverages
    • 5.2.3.1 Bakery
    • 5.2.3.2 Beverages
    • 5.2.3.3 Breakfast Cereals
    • 5.2.3.4 Condiments/Sauces
    • 5.2.3.5 Confectionery
    • 5.2.3.6 Dairy and Dairy Alternatives Products
    • 5.2.3.7 RTE/RTC Food Products
    • 5.2.3.8 Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
    • 5.2.3.9 Dietary Supplements
    • 5.2.3.10 Others
    • 5.2.4 Functional Nutrition
    • 5.2.4.1 Baby Food and Infant Formula
    • 5.2.4.2 Elderly Nutrition and Medical Nutrition
    • 5.2.4.3 Sport/Performance Nutrition

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Positioning Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles {(includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)}
    • 6.4.1 Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
    • 6.4.2 Cargill Incorporated
    • 6.4.3 Roquette Frères S.A.
    • 6.4.4 Kerry Group plc
    • 6.4.5 Ingredion Incorporated
    • 6.4.6 Glanbia Nutritionals
    • 6.4.7 Tate & Lyle PLC
    • 6.4.8 DSM-Firmenich AG
    • 6.4.9 Novozymes A/S
    • 6.4.10 Puris
    • 6.4.11 Axiom Foods Inc.
    • 6.4.12 Marlow Foods Ltd (Quorn)
    • 6.4.13 Plant & Bean Ltd
    • 6.4.14 VBites Foods Ltd
    • 6.4.15 Meatless Farm Ltd
    • 6.4.16 Beyond Meat Inc.
    • 6.4.17 Nestlé UK Ltd (Garden Gourmet)
    • 6.4.18 Unilever PLC (The Vegetarian Butcher)
    • 6.4.19 Oatly Group AB
    • 6.4.20 Upfield Holdings B.V.
    • 6.4.21 Gosh! Food Ltd
    • 6.4.22 Greencore Group plc
    • 6.4.23 Eat Just Inc.

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

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United Kingdom Plant Protein Market Report Scope

Hemp Protein, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Rice Protein, Soy Protein, Wheat Protein are covered as segments by Protein Type. Animal Feed, Food and Beverages, Personal Care and Cosmetics, Supplements are covered as segments by End User.
By Protein Type
Hemp Protein
Pea Protein
Potato Protein
Rice Protein
Soy Protein
Wheat Protein
Others Protein
By Application
Animal Feed
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Food and Beverages Bakery
Beverages
Breakfast Cereals
Condiments/Sauces
Confectionery
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives Products
RTE/RTC Food Products
Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
Dietary Supplements
Others
Functional Nutrition Baby Food and Infant Formula
Elderly Nutrition and Medical Nutrition
Sport/Performance Nutrition
By Protein Type Hemp Protein
Pea Protein
Potato Protein
Rice Protein
Soy Protein
Wheat Protein
Others Protein
By Application Animal Feed
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Food and Beverages Bakery
Beverages
Breakfast Cereals
Condiments/Sauces
Confectionery
Dairy and Dairy Alternatives Products
RTE/RTC Food Products
Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Alternatives
Dietary Supplements
Others
Functional Nutrition Baby Food and Infant Formula
Elderly Nutrition and Medical Nutrition
Sport/Performance Nutrition
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Market Definition

  • End User - The Protein Ingredients Market operates on a B2B basis. Food, Beverages, Supplements, Animal Feed, and Personal Care & Cosmetic manufacturers are considered to be end-consumers in the market studied. The scope excludes manufacturers buying liquid/dry whey to be used for application as a binding agent or thickener or other non-protein applications.
  • Penetration Rate - Penetration Rate is defined as the percentage of Protein-Fortified End User Market Volume in the Overall End User Market Volume.
  • Average Protein Content - Average protein content is the average protein content present per 100 g of product manufactured by all end-user companies considered under the scope of this report.
  • End User Market Volume - End-user market volume is the consolidated volume of all types and forms of end-user products in the country or region.
Keyword Definition
Alpha-lactalbumin (α-Lactalbumin) It is a protein that regulates the production of lactose in the milk of almost all mammalian species.
Amino acid It is an organic compound that contains both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups, which are required for the synthesis of body protein and other important nitrogen-containing compounds, such as creatine, peptide hormones, and some neurotransmitters.
Blanching It is the process of briefly heating vegetables with steam or boiling water.
BRC British Retail Consortium
Bread improver It is a flour-based blend of several components with specific functional properties designed to modify dough characteristics and give quality attributes to bread.
BSF Black Soldier Fly
Caseinate It is a substance produced by adding an alkali to acid casein, a derivative of casein.
Celiac disease Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.
Colostrum It is a milky fluid that’s released by mammals that have recently given birth before breast milk production begins.
Concentrate It is the least processed form of protein and has a protein content ranging from 40-90% by weight.
Dry protein basis It refers to the percentage of "pure protein" present in a supplement after the water in it is completely removed through heat.
Dry whey It is the product resulting from drying fresh whey which has been pasteurized and to which nothing has been added as a preservative.
Egg protein It is a mixture of individual proteins, including ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovoglobulin, conalbumin, vitellin, and vitellenin.
Emulsifier It is a food additive that facilitates the blending of foods that are immiscible with one another, such as oil and water.
Enrichment It is the process of addition of micronutrients that are lost during the processing of the product.
ERS Economic Research Service of the USDA
Extrusion It is the process of forcing soft mixed ingredients through an opening in a perforated plate or die designed to produce the required shape. The extruded food is then cut to a specific size by blades.
Fava Also known as Faba, it is another word for yellow split beans.
FDA Food and Drug Administration
Flaking It is a process in which typically a cereal grain (like corn, wheat, or rice) is broken down into grits, cooked with flavors and syrups, and then pressed into flakes between cooled rollers.
Foaming agent It is a food ingredient that makes it possible to form or maintain a uniform dispersion of a gaseous phase in a liquid or solid food.
Foodservice It refers to the part of the food industry which includes businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Fortification It is the deliberate addition of micronutrients that are not found in them naturally or which are lost during processing, to improve a food product's nutritional value.
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Gelling agent It is an ingredient that functions as a stabilizer and thickener to provide thickening without stiffness through the formation of gel.
GHG Greenhouse Gas
Gluten It is a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley.
Hemp It is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use.
Hydrolysate It is a form of protein manufactured by exposing the protein to enzymes that can partially break the bonds between the protein's amino acids and break down large, complicated proteins into smaller pieces. Its processing makes it easier and quicker to digest.
Hypoallergenic It refers to a substance that causes fewer allergic reactions.
Isolate It is the purest and most processed form of protein which has undergone separation to obtain a pure protein fraction. It typically contains ≥ 90% of protein by weight.
Keratin It is a protein that helps form hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin.
Lactalbumin It is the albumin contained in milk and obtained from whey.
Lactoferrin It is an iron‑binding glycoprotein that is present in the milk of most mammals.
Lupin It is the yellow legume seeds of the genus Lupinus.
Millenial Also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, it refers to the people born from 1981 to 1996.
Monogastric It refers to an animal with a single-compartmented stomach. Examples of monogastric include humans, poultry, pigs, horses, rabbits, dogs, and cats. Most monogastric are generally unable to digest much cellulose food materials such as grasses.
MPC Milk protein concentrate
MPI Milk protein isolate
MSPI Methylated soy protein isolate
Mycoprotein Mycoprotein is a form of single-cell protein, also known as fungal protein, derived from fungi for human consumption.
Nutricosmetics It is a category of products and ingredients that act as nutritional supplements to care for skin, nails, and hair natural beauty.
Osteoporosis It is a medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue, typically as a result of hormonal changes, or deficiency of calcium or vitamin D.
PDCAAS Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) is a method of evaluating the quality of a protein based on both the amino acid requirements of humans and their ability to digest it.
Per-capita consumption of animal protein It is the average amount of animal protein (such as milk, whey, gelatin, collagen, and egg proteins) that is readily available for consumption by each person in an actual population.
Per-capita consumption of plant protein It is the average amount of plant protein (such as soy, wheat, pea, oat, and hemp proteins) that is readily available for consumption by each person in an actual population.
Quorn It is a microbial protein manufactured using mycoprotein as an ingredient, in which the fungus culture is dried and mixed with egg albumen or potato protein, which acts as a binder, and then is adjusted in texture and pressed into various forms.
Ready-to-Cook (RTC) It refers to food products that include all of the ingredients, where some preparation or cooking is required through a process that is given on the package.
Ready-to-Eat (RTE) It refers to a food product prepared or cooked in advance, with no further cooking or preparation required before being eaten.
RTD Ready-to-Drink
RTS Ready-to-Serve
Saturated fat It is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains have all single bonds. It is generally considered unhealthy.
Sausage It is a meat product made of finely chopped and seasoned meat, which may be fresh, smoked, or pickled and which is then usually stuffed into a casing.
Seitan It is a plant-based meat substitute made out of wheat gluten.
Softgel It is a gelatin-based capsule with a liquid fill.
SPC Soy protein concentrate
SPI Soy protein isolate
Spirulina It is a biomass of cyanobacteria that can be consumed by humans and animals.
Stabilizer It is an ingredient added to food products to help maintain or enhance their original texture, and physical and chemical characteristics.
Supplementation It is the consumption or provision of concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances that are intended to supplement nutrients in the diet and is intended to correct nutritional deficiencies.
Texturant It is a specific type of food ingredient that is used to control and alter the mouthfeel and texture of food and beverage products.
Thickener It is an ingredient that is used to increase the viscosity of a liquid or dough and make it thicker, without substantially changing its other properties.
Trans fat Also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, it is a type of unsaturated fat that naturally occurs in small amounts in meat.
TSP Textured soy protein
TVP Textured vegetable protein
WPC Whey protein concentrate
WPI Whey protein isolate
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Research Methodology

Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: Identify Key Variables: The quantifiable key variables (industry and extraneous) pertaining to the specific product segment and country are selected from a group of relevant variables & factors based on desk research & literature review; along with primary expert inputs. These variables are further confirmed through regression modeling (wherever required).
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step-1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set and the model is built on the basis of these variables.
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.
  • Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms
research-methodology
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