United States Wheat Protein Market Size and Share

United States Wheat Protein Market (2026 - 2031)
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United States Wheat Protein Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The United States wheat protein market size is estimated at USD 0.91 billion in 2026, and is projected to grow to USD 1.05 billion by 2031, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.98% during the forecast period. The market growth is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of plant-based and flexitarian diets, which have boosted the demand for plant proteins that provide structure, texture, and protein density on a large scale. The rising consumption of sports and performance nutrition products is further driving the demand for plant-derived proteins that support protein fortification while ensuring processing stability. Moreover, consumer preferences for clean-label and sustainable products are enhancing the appeal of wheat protein, as its recognizability and compatibility with simplified ingredient statements align with expectations for transparency and natural ingredients.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By type, concentrates held 46.33% of 2025 revenue, while textured and hydrolyzed formats are set to advance at a 4.21% CAGR to 2031.
  • By nature, conventional formats captured 81.53% of 2025 revenue, whereas organic variants will grow at a 4.09% CAGR through 2031. 
  • By application, food and beverages accounted for 53.31% of the 2025 value; animal feed is forecast to expand at a 3.71% CAGR during 2026-2031.

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 Type: Textured Formats Gain as Whole-Cut Analogs Scale

Wheat protein concentrates, which accounted for 46.33% of total market revenue in 2025, continue to drive the United States wheat protein market due to their optimal balance of functionality, protein density, and cost-effectiveness across various end-use applications. These concentrates typically offer high protein content, making them highly attractive to food manufacturers seeking significant protein enrichment without the formulation challenges or higher costs associated with isolates. Their strong water-binding, viscoelasticity, and emulsification properties enable broad usage in bakery products, meat extenders, plant-based meat analogues, and high-protein snacks. In these applications, they enhance texture, structure, and mouthfeel rather than serving solely as a nutritional additive.

Textured and hydrolyzed wheat proteins are expanding at a CAGR of 4.21% through 2031 by addressing evolving formulation priorities around performance, versatility, and value creation rather than merely adding protein. Textured wheat protein is gaining traction due to its ability to deliver structural complexity, density, and mechanical strength that closely replicate animal-protein behavior. This enables manufacturers to develop protein systems with improved bite, cohesion, and moisture stability while maintaining formulation flexibility. Its seamless integration with other plant proteins and fats supports more stable protein matrices and reduces reliance on synthetic binders or additives, aligning with cleaner-label formulation strategies. 

United States Wheat Protein Market: Market Share by Type
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By Nature: Organic Certification Drives Premium Positioning

Conventional wheat protein formats, which accounted for 81.53% of total market revenue in 2025, continue to dominate due to their reliable supply, consistent processing performance, and widespread acceptance among manufacturers in large-scale production systems. These proteins benefit from established wheat sourcing networks, standardized quality specifications, and high processing yields. This enables manufacturers to achieve consistent functional performance across batches while maintaining formulation stability at a commercial scale. Their broad availability supports uninterrupted production planning and facilitates long-term supplier contracts, which are essential for high-volume food manufacturers focused on operational efficiency and predictable outcomes.

Organic wheat protein, growing at a CAGR of 4.09% through 2031, is increasingly contributing to the growth of the United States wheat protein market. This trend is supported by strong upstream momentum in organic wheat production and sales. According to the Science Societies, organic wheat sales are nearly 80% higher than regular wheat production. Between 2023 and 2024, the United States sold 24.41 million bushels of organic wheat, reflecting sustained grower participation and market demand for organically produced grains [3]Source: Science Societies, "The surprising potential of organic wheat", sciencesocieties.org. This highlights a structural shift toward certified organic grain cultivation, signaling a more robust raw-material pipeline for organic protein derivatives. The improved availability, consistency, and long-term sourcing confidence for organic wheat directly support the expansion of organic wheat protein in the market.

By Application: Animal Feed Emerges as Volume Anchor Animal feed is expanding at 3.71% through 2031, the fastest rate a

Food and beverages, which accounted for 53.31% of total market revenue in 2025, remain the primary growth driver of the United States wheat protein market. This segment anchors demand in high-volume, repeat-use product categories, emphasizing wheat protein's role as a multifunctional ingredient rather than a niche protein source. The dominance of this segment is attributed to the widespread integration of wheat protein into everyday food systems, where manufacturers focus on texture enhancement, structural stability, and protein enrichment within familiar product formats. Wheat protein's inherent viscoelasticity, binding strength, and water-holding capacity contribute to improved product consistency and processing tolerance while simultaneously increasing protein content, making it highly appealing for scalable food production.

The animal feed segment is expanding at a CAGR of 3.71% through 2031, representing the fastest growth rate among application segments. This growth is driven by improved utilization efficiency and protein optimization across feed formulations. Wheat protein's favorable amino acid profile, digestibility, and binding characteristics enhance feed performance by improving pellet integrity and reducing nutrient loss during processing and storage. Its functional consistency supports stable formulation outcomes, enabling feed producers to standardize protein inclusion levels while maintaining processing efficiency. Additionally, wheat protein provides greater flexibility in protein sourcing strategies, allowing formulators to balance plant-based protein systems and reduce reliance on single-source inputs. 

United States Wheat Protein Market: Market Share by Application
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Geography Analysis

The United States wheat protein market is predominantly concentrated in the Midwest and Great Plains regions, which serve as the foundation of domestic wheat protein production. These areas benefit from direct access to hard red winter wheat supplies, ensuring steady raw material availability and reducing transportation distances. This proximity enables processors to maintain cost-efficient operations and consistent input quality. Additionally, the presence of well-established wet-milling and gluten-extraction infrastructure in these regions supports large-scale protein processing and facilitates just-in-time delivery models for downstream customers requiring reliable supply chains.

Within the primary production belt, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri account for the majority of the country's wheat gluten and wheat protein extraction capacity. These states leverage robust agricultural ecosystems, skilled labor pools, and strong connectivity to national freight networks. These factors collectively enable high-throughput processing and efficient outbound logistics. Their central location allows manufacturers to serve the bakery, pet food, and feed industries nationwide with shorter lead times, solidifying their role as strategic hubs for producing volume-driven and functionally oriented wheat protein formats.

In contrast, regions such as California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest are characterized as demand-driven growth areas rather than production centers. These regions feature dense concentrations of natural-channel retailers, specialty bakeries, and innovation-focused food startups, driving demand for organic and Non-GMO Project Verified wheat protein formats. Consumer preferences in these areas emphasize clean-label, certified, and sustainably sourced ingredients, fostering premium positioning and supporting higher-value wheat protein variants. While production remains concentrated in the central United States, coastal and West Coast markets play a pivotal role in influencing product innovation, certification adoption, and premium demand trends within the broader United States wheat protein market.

Competitive Landscape

The United States wheat protein market exhibits moderate concentration, driven by a combination of large, diversified ingredient multinationals and specialized wheat processors. Key players in the market include Cargill, Incorporated, MGP Ingredients, Inc., Roquette Frères SA, Tereos SCA, and Kerry Group plc. These companies leverage vertically integrated supply chains, robust wheat sourcing capabilities, and established customer relationships across food, feed, and specialty nutrition segments. This enables them to maintain a competitive edge while meeting the demand for both high-volume and value-added protein products.

Competition in the market is increasingly influenced by investments in production capacity and advancements in processing technologies, particularly in high-moisture extrusion and enzyme-assisted hydrolysis. Leading companies are expanding extrusion capacities to develop advanced wheat protein formats with improved structural integrity and performance, addressing the growing demand for next-generation protein systems. Simultaneously, investments in enzymatic hydrolysis enable the production of low-bitterness, neutral-flavor wheat protein derivatives with enhanced solubility and functional efficiency. These advancements broaden the application scope of wheat protein in formulation-sensitive products. Such processing capabilities create significant entry barriers, favoring established players with the necessary scale, technical expertise, and financial resources.

Certification-led competition is gaining prominence, with major companies seeking Non-GMO Project verification and clean-label compliance to cater to premium demand in natural and specialty product channels. Additionally, technology adoption is increasingly focused on twin-screw extrusion systems for precise texturization control and enzymatic processing platforms for functional customization. These technologies enable suppliers to develop tailored wheat protein solutions that meet evolving customer requirements, further strengthening their competitive positioning in the market.

United States Wheat Protein Industry Leaders

  1. Cargill, Incorporated

  2. MGP Ingredients, Inc. 

  3. Roquette Freres SA

  4. Kerry Group plc

  5. Tereos SCA

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

  • October 2025: Arla Foods Ingredients has introduced a new concept, Easy Bite, a bite-sized protein snack. Developed with the customized whey protein solution Lacprodan EasyBar, it provides up to 40% high-quality protein in a convenient 18g serving.
  • December 2024: Manildra Group USA celebrated its 50th anniversary, highlighting its expertise in the production and distribution of vital wheat gluten, wheat starches, and wheat proteins.

Table of Contents for United States Wheat 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 Rising adoption of plant-based diets
    • 4.2.2 Surge in sports and performance nutrition products
    • 4.2.3 Preference for clean-label and sustainable ingredients
    • 4.2.4 Advancements in processing technologies
    • 4.2.5 Growing preference for Non-GMO ingredient declarations
    • 4.2.6 Rising demand for plant-based proteins in meat alternatives
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Rising prevalence of gluten intolerance and celiac disease
    • 4.3.2 Intense competition from hypoallergenic plant proteins
    • 4.3.3 High production costs due to energy-intensive extraction
    • 4.3.4 Supply chain disruptions from wheat crop variability
  • 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 FORECASTS (VALUE AND VOLUME)

  • 5.1 By Type
    • 5.1.1 Concentrates
    • 5.1.2 Isolates
    • 5.1.3 Textured / Hydrolyzed
  • 5.2 By Nature
    • 5.2.1 Conventional
    • 5.2.2 Organic
  • 5.3 By Application
    • 5.3.1 Food and Beverages
    • 5.3.1.1 Bakery and Snacks
    • 5.3.1.2 Breakfast Cereals
    • 5.3.1.3 Meat / Poultry / Seafood and Meat Alternatives
    • 5.3.1.4 RTE / RTC Food Products
    • 5.3.1.5 Condiments / Sauces
    • 5.3.2 Animal Feed
    • 5.3.3 Personal Care and Cosmetics
    • 5.3.4 Supplements

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 Cargill, Incorporated
    • 6.4.2 MGP Ingredients, Inc.
    • 6.4.3 Manildra Group USA
    • 6.4.4 Roquette Freres SA
    • 6.4.5 Kerry Group plc
    • 6.4.6 Tereos SCA
    • 6.4.7 A. Costantino & C. SpA
    • 6.4.8 Crespel & Deiters
    • 6.4.9 Ardent Mills
    • 6.4.10 AMCO Proteins
    • 6.4.11 Glico Nutrition
    • 6.4.12 CropEnergies AG
    • 6.4.13 CResProtein LLC
    • 6.4.14 Givaudan (PPG Division)
    • 6.4.15 Tate & Lyle
    • 6.4.16 The Scoular Company
    • 6.4.17 Sudzucker / BENEO
    • 6.4.18 Puris Proteins
    • 6.4.19 ThorSpecialties
    • 6.4.20 Zhonghe Group (USA rep offices)

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

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United States Wheat Protein Market Report Scope

Wheat protein is a plant-based protein primarily derived from wheat gluten. It is valued for its functional properties, including elasticity, viscosity, and water absorption, which make it suitable for applications in bakery products, meat analogues, and nutritional formulations. 

The United States wheat protein market is segmented by type, nature, and application. By type, the market is segmented into Concentrates, isolates, and textured/hydrolysed. By nature, the market is segmented into organic and conventional. By application, the market is segmented into food and beverage, animal feed, personal care, cosmetics, and supplements. The food and beverage segment is further sub-segmented into bakery and snacks, breakfast cereals, meat, poultry, seafood, and meat alternatives, and RTE/RTC food products. Market sizing has been done in value terms in USD and in volume in tons for all the abovementioned segments.  

By Type
Concentrates
Isolates
Textured / Hydrolyzed
By Nature
Conventional
Organic
By Application
Food and Beverages Bakery and Snacks
Breakfast Cereals
Meat / Poultry / Seafood and Meat Alternatives
RTE / RTC Food Products
Condiments / Sauces
Animal Feed
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Supplements
By Type Concentrates
Isolates
Textured / Hydrolyzed
By Nature Conventional
Organic
By Application Food and Beverages Bakery and Snacks
Breakfast Cereals
Meat / Poultry / Seafood and Meat Alternatives
RTE / RTC Food Products
Condiments / Sauces
Animal Feed
Personal Care and Cosmetics
Supplements
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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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