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

The Germany protein market was valued at USD 1.30 billion in 2024. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.30% from 2025 to 2034, potentially reaching USD 2.17 billion by 2034. Key players are increasingly focusing on expanding their product facilities and geographical reach to cater to a larger consumer base globally.

Germany Protein Market Growth

The key drivers for the growth of the Germany protein market include the expansion and upscaling efforts led by key market players. These players are increasingly focusing on expanding their product facilities and geographical reach to cater to a larger consumer base globally. These strategies are creating a consistent path for their revenue and market growth.

Proteintech, a leading manufacturer of antibodies, proteins, nanobodies, and immunoassays, opened its new branch in Munich, Germany with separate office and laboratory spaces in March 2024. The logistics were estimated thrice as large as the company’s previous headquarters in Germany.

Similarly, German biotech firm MicroHarvest announced a significant expansion in November 2024, increasing its production capacity to 10 tonnes of microbial protein per day, a ten-fold rise from its previous output.

These companies are also striving to align their goals with emerging market trends including the introduction of innovative flavours, the production of plant-based and alternative products, and encouraging research in efficient production technologies such as precision fermentation, to increase their stability and development potential.

Key Trends and Recent Developments

Increased adoption of plant-based proteins, innovation of exotic flavours, and rising investments in sustainable projects are impacting the Germany protein market revenue.

April 2024

Germany-based biotech startup MicroHarvest partnered with animal-free pet food producer, VEGDOG to launch a first-of-its-kind microbial protein dog treat, VEGDOG Pure Bites snack, at the 2024 Pet Food Forum held in Nuremberg. The product combined microbial protein from MicroHarvest with potato and apple pomace, offering hypoallergenic properties, thereby making it suitable for dogs with sensitivities to conventional protein sources.

March 2024

German ProteinDistillery, one of the major contributors to the Germany protein market growth, announced that it secured funding of EUR 15 million to produce plant-based and clean-label protein ingredients for the food and beverages industry. The investment will support the company’s entry strategy in the market, alongside crucial partnerships to drive expansion.

March 2024

Biotech company, Kynda, one of the leading Germany protein market key players, unveiled its new zero-waste, mycelium-based protein product, “Kynda Meat”, in Germany. The burger patty offers 37% protein content, all nine essential amino acids, and high-quality fibre and vitamins. Its production uses food industry by-products in an efficient 48-hour fermentation process, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 700%.

November 2023

Royal Avebe introduced PerfectaSOL, a new range of potato protein products in Frankfurt, Germany. The products were designed to serve as ingredients for popular potato meals such as veggie doughnuts, potato cookies and more, to captivate a broader audience, extending beyond vegans and vegetarians.

Increased Adoption of Plant-Based Protein is Driving the Growth of the Germany Protein Market

Health concerns and changing food consumption habits are increasing the adoption of plant-based proteins in Germany, especially among those preferring vegan and vegetarian diets. Additionally, plant proteins are relatively more affordable than animal-based alternatives and are usually 100% organic, free from preservatives to deplete the quality of ingredients. This has further fuelled the demand among consumers, to meet which, key players have raised their investment in the expansion of their plant-based protein offerings. For instance, in April 2022, BENEO, a leading protein producer, invested EUR 50 million to establish a new pulse protein processing site in Offstein, Germany to produce protein-rich pulse ingredients for food and animal feed.

Introduction of Innovative Flavours is Encouraging the Germany Protein Market Development

Innovations in flavours in protein ingredients are improving the taste profiles of food products, leading to an expansion of the consumer base, especially with the addition of customers who traditionally do not consume proteins for their nutritional content. By enhancing the taste, protein products are being transformed from just a nutritional supplement into a desirable part of the consumer's diet. As a result, market players are increasingly incorporating exotic flavours in their protein products, enhancing their overall Germany protein market value and appeal. Sports nutrition brand, Ghost, which has a significant presence in Germany, launched a new limited edition Oreo mint whey protein powder in collaboration with Mondelez International’s Oreo brand: Whey x Oreo Mint, in July 2024.

Growing Preference for Alternative Proteins is Significant Trend in the Germany Protein Market

Ethical concerns and shifting food consumption patterns are fuelling the demand for alternative proteins such as lab-grown meat, microbially produced proteins, and proteins sourced from agricultural ingredients in Germany. While these products cater to the increasing vegan and vegetarian population, they also offer environmental benefits, with a significantly lower carbon footprint and minimal greenhouse gas emissions during production. In June 2023, GEA, a key player in the food and pharmaceutical industry, opened the New Food Application and Technology Centre of Excellence (ATC) in Hildesheim, Germany, to serve as a central hub for producing and processing alternative proteins in the country.

Investment in Sustainable Projects is Driving Opportunities in the Germany Protein Market

Growing environmental concerns are driving both private and public sector investments in sustainable protein development projects, especially those that help the government meet the national targets of lowering carbon footprint and reducing waste generation. Such projects play a crucial role in enhancing the future growth and stability of the Germany protein market, enabling key players to serve a larger base of customers domestically and internationally in the long run. For instance, in October 2024, the Hamburg University of Technology, in collaboration with the local food tech startup Infinite Roots, was awarded a EUR 2.6 million grant from Germany’s federal food and agriculture ministry to implement a project that transforms whey, a byproduct of the dairy industry, into mycelium protein through fermentation.

Germany Protein Market Trends

The Germany protein market is witnessing a rising trend of mergers and acquisitions between major brands, leading the way for the development and execution of combined growth strategies through product portfolio, target consumer and geographical reach expansion. Besides, such strategic moves also encourage technology transfer between involved parties, enhancing their overall efficiency and productivity in the long run. Through mergers and acquisitions, brands can consolidate their resources and serve the diverse needs of the country’s protein market, both domestically and internationally. US-based Fotifi Food Processing Solutions acquired the Germany-based manufacturer and distributor of protein processing systems and equipment, JWE-BANSS GmH in November 2024 to leverage the latter’s expertise and step its foot in the country’s protein industry.

Germany Protein Industry Segmentation

The report titled “Germany Protein Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:

Market Breakup by Type

• Animal
• Casein and Caseinates
• Collagen
• Gelatin
• Insect Protein
• Milk Protein
• Whey Protein
• Egg Protein
• Others
• Plant
• Hemp Protein
• Pea Protein
• Rice Protein
• Soy Protein
• Wheat Protein
• Others
• Microbial
• Algae Protein
• Mycoprotein

Market Breakup by End-User

• Animal Feed
• Food and Beverages
• Personal Care and Cosmetics
• Supplements
• Baby Food and Infant Formula
• Elderly Nutrition and Medical Nutrition
• Sport/Performance Nutrition

Market Breakup by Region

• North Rhine-Westphalia
• Bavaria
• Baden-Württemberg

Germany Protein Market Share

Animal protein is leading the growth of the Germany protein market due to the scalable production of insect protein

According to the Germany protein market analysis, animal protein holds one of the largest market share due to the growing production of high-yield insect-based protein ingredients which are extremely sustainable, environment-friendly, and require minimal sources such as land and water for extraction. They serve as an ideal alternative to plant-based and traditional animal-based proteins like meat and eggs, having wide applications in both human and animal nutrition.

Besides animal protein, microbial proteins are also emerging as a sustainable protein source in the Germany protein market, preferred for their low carbon footprint and high yield. Ongoing research into their development is paving the way for their increased consumption in the future. A recent report in the “ Trends in Biotechnology journal by German researchers highlighted a new method of extracting protein from bacteria using only CO 2, hydrogen, and oxygen. This process, along with the resulting protein, is regarded as extremely sustainable, micronutrient-rich, and ideal to be served with a variety of food ingredients. Meanwhile, plant protein is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period.

Food and beverage sector is leading the protein demand growth in Germany

According to the Germany protein market report, the market is led by the food and beverage sector, which incorporates protein into a range of products designed for various consumer groups, including infants, athletes and elderly individuals. Each category of consumers prefers different types of proteins based on their diet, nutritional needs, convenience of consumption, and food habits. For instance, while vegans and vegetarians prefer organic, plant-based protein ingredients, athletes who often require high protein content prefer traditional animal proteins such as meat and eggs, besides popular supplements such as concentrates, powders and isolates.

All these ingredients are added during the food processing stage, which, according to the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries, generated EUR 218.5 billion in processed food and drinks in 2022, an annual increase of 17%. With the further growth of the food processing industry, the demand for protein is expected to witness a sharp surge in Germany.

The demands for protein in the animal nutrition industry is evolving with the introduction of strict nutritional and safety standards by the German government. In September 2024, the government launched a new protein evaluation system for cow feed, designed to optimise dairy cow nutrition and improve sustainability. This system focuses on testing the digestibility of amino acids in the small intestine, rather than the overall protein content of the feed, encouraging manufacturers to tailor products to meet specific animals and their nutritional needs.

Germany Protein Market Regional Analysis

Expanding sports industry of North Rhine-Westphalia is driving the Germany protein market growth

North Rhine-Westphalia has a robust and dynamic sports industry, where five million athletes are active members who regularly participate in sports. The region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period of 2025 and 2034. The participation of such a large population in sports activities has led to an increase in protein consumption in the region, specifically for protein supplements such as concentrates, isolates, and whey protein powders. Besides, the local government is expected to promote sports culture in the coming years with the introduction of the "Modern Sports Complex 2022" programme, which aims to build new sports complexes to accommodate the growing number of athletes in the region, thereby expanding the market for protein products.

Emergence of new startups is boosting the demand for protein in Baden-Württemberg

Besides, the Baden-Württemberg region in Germany is witnessing the emergence of new startups, especially in the sustainable protein domain, thereby creating new Germany protein market opportunities for key stakeholders. For instance, in August 2021, Signature Products, a German startup announced that it had secured nearly EUR 800,000 in funding from the state of Baden-Württemberg to develop a regional hemp protein value chain.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in Germany protein market are expanding its production facilities and increasing its production capacities to meet the rising demand for protein. Additionally, they are incorporating new products into their portfolios to address the varied needs of consumers, keeping in line with emerging industry trends and developments.

DSM-Firmenich AG

DSM-Firmenich AG, headquartered in Kaiseraugst, Switzerland, was formed in 2023 following the merger between the multinational companies DSM and Firmenich. The merged firm has been expanding its footprint in the nutrition, health, and beauty industries, with specialties in fragrances, health nutrition ingredients, pet food, vitamins, baking ingredients, baby foods, and biomedical equipment.

Arla Foods amba

Arla Foods is one of the largest dairy farm cooperatives globally, with around 12,500 members from the European farming community. The company was established in the 1880s, the company headquarters is in Vibe, Denmark and serves millions of customers across industries such as early life nutrition, medical nutrition, sports nutrition, dairy, and bakery products.

Cargill, Inc.

Cargill Inc., a global leader in the food, agriculture, and manufacturing industries, was established in 1865 and is headquartered in Minnesota, United States. The company specialises in the production and processing of grains, oilseeds, animal nutrition, biochemicals, and metals, with production facilities in more than 70 countries and Cargill serves markets in more than 125 countries worldwide.

Glanbia Plc

Glanbia Plc, a pioneer in the development of nutrition products for human, animal, and sports nutrition industries, was founded in 1997 in the Kilkenny, Ireland. The company’s product range includes whey proteins, performance nutrition, dairy ingredients, micronutrient premix solutions and more.

Other key players in the Germany protein market report are Symrise AG, Lactoprot Deutschland GmbH, Gelita AG, Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd., Südzucker AG, and Roquette Frères S.A., among others.