Meal Replacement Market Growth Analysis - Market Size, Share, Forecast Trends and Outlook Report (2025-2034)

The global meal replacement market size reached around USD 15.30 Billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.50% between 2025 and 2034 to reach nearly USD 31.53 Billion by 2034. The growing prevalence of lifestyle disorders like obesity and diabetes is prompting consumers to switch towards nutritious meal replacement solutions. Over the forecast period, the market is expected to witness a substantial growth due to the surging demand for shakes, driven by the rising consumer preference for ready-to-drink meals available in palatable flavours.

Global Meal Replacement Market Report Summary

Market Size 2024

• USD Billion 15.30

Market Size 2034

• USD Billion 31.53
• CAGR 2025-2034
• 7.50%

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by Region

• Asia Pacific
• 8.3%

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by Country

• India
• 8.4%

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by Country

• China
• 8.2%

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by Purpose

• Slimming
• 8.0%

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by Flavour

• Berry
• 8.1%

Market Share by Country 2024

• Japan
• 5.6%

Global Meal Replacement Market Growth

In November 2024, it was reported that diabetes affects over 800 million people globally, with low-and-middle-income countries like India being severely affected. Around 20% of the population residing in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean region, and the Eastern Mediterranean Regions respectively suffer from diabetes. 13% of the American population is diabetic, and its prevalence is rising steadily in the world due to unhealthy diets. This has prompted food and beverage companies to introduce low-carb/low-sugar meal replacement solutions like shakes, energy drinks, protein bars, and candies for health-conscious consumers. The launch of innovative flavours of ready-to-drink meals by leading health nutrition companies is expected to increase the meal replacement market value in the coming years.

The growth of per capita disposable incomes of consumers is enhancing their appeal for trying different products to ensure overall health and wellness. In India, gross national disposable income is expected to rise by 8.9% in 2024. Similarly, in October 2024, the United States reported USD 144.1 billion in growth of disposable incomes of individuals. This is expected to favourably impact the meal replacement market dynamics in the coming years.

Key Trends and Developments

Introduction of vegan formulations; reducing family sizes; promotional and marketing activities by key players; and increasing focus on weight management are the major factors driving the meal replacement market growth.

September 2024

Starco Brands’s subsidiary Soylent Nutrition Inc. launched two new limited-edition flavours of its ready-to-drink meal items in Gingerbread and Pumpkin Spice flavours. This presents an appealing, accessible, affordable, and sustainable nutritional solution for different consumers in the United States.

August 2024

Soylent Nutrition reported the greatest repurchase rate of all Starco Brands’ adult nutrition brands in the adult nutrition in 2024, surpassing its surpassing competitors like Ensure (48.2%), Boost (61.9%), Orgain (54.5%), and OWYN (57%). On average, 69.2% of Soylent’s consumers purchased their favourite products over 2 times.

February 2023

Starco Brands, an American consumer goods manufacturing company, completed the acquisition of Soylent Nutrition Inc. which was honoured by the 2023 Product of the Year USA Awards under the category of Best Meal Replacement. This is aimed at enhancing its market presence in the category of functional and plant-based foods and contributing to the meal replacement market development.

August 2021

WM Partners, a leading private equity firm investing in the growth of middle market companies in the health and wellness industry, completed the acquisition of Vega, which was a plant-based protein brand owned formerly by Danone SA.

Introduction of vegan formulations

Nearly 79 million individuals globally identify themselves as vegans to promote animal welfare (68.1%), stay healthy (17.4%), and ensure environmental protection (9.7%). This has prompted companies to introduce vegan meal replacement solutions, which is favourably influencing the meal replacement market dynamics.

Reducing family sizes

By 2095, the average household size is expected to decline by 35%, which is expected to prompt consumers to prefer quick meal replacement solutions instead of preparing four-meals a day. The introduction of new flavours of protein shakes is also expected to favourably shape the meal replacement market outlook in the coming years.

Promotional and marketing activities

Major market players are making significant investments to make their advertising and promotional campaigns successful. By leveraging social media, establishing influencer partnerships, and focusing on targeted consumers, the sale of branded meal replacement items is expected to surge significantly.

Increasing focus on weight management

Increasing consumer awareness regarding lifestyle disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases is promoting them to seek natural and healthy eating solutions. Meal replacement solutions are well-suited to meet the consumer demand for nutritious meal solutions, thereby leading to the market expansion.

Global Meal Replacement Market Trends

Decrease in family sizes in Japan

In 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported that 34.0% of all Japanese families were single-person households, at 18,495,000. Households comprising of a married couple/married couple with children accounted for 24.8% and 24.6% of all households, respectively. This is expected to facilitate the meal replacement market expansion in Japan in the coming years, as consumers shift away from cooking four-square meals daily to healthy and palatable meal replacement shakes and protein bars for convenience.

Introduction of vegan formulations

In 2020, the sale of vegan food products grew 2x faster than general food sales. The United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand are the topmost countries ranked by the number of vegan consumers. 2% of the US population identifies itself as vegan, with three-quarters of it being female. Over the forecast period, meal replacement market value is expected to register significant growth, driven by the increasing introduction of plant-based protein-rich meal replacement alternatives.

Global Meal Replacement Industry Segmentation

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

Breakup by Product

• Soups
• Shakes
• Others

Breakup by Purpose

• Slimming
• Body Building

Breakup by Flavour

• Vanilla
• Berry
• Chocolate
• Cookies and Cream
• Others

Breakup by Distribution Channel

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Speciality Stores
• Online
• Others

Breakup by Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa

Global Meal Replacement Market Share

Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Over the forecast period of 2025-2034, the market for meal replacement products in the Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% due to rising consumer awareness of the health benefits of portion control and rapid urbanisation. As per the meal replacement market analysis, countries like India and China are expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% and 8.2%, respectively, due to the growth of online distribution channels and increasing consumer demand for body slimming products.

Based on flavour, the market is segmented into vanilla, berry, chocolate, and cookies and cream, among others. Berry flavoured meal replacement products are expected to emerge as one of the key meal replacement market trends, recording a CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period of 2025-2034. They are expected to be followed by chocolate flavoured products, which are expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8%.

CAGR 2025-2034 - Market by

• Flavour
• Berry
• 8.1%
• Chocolate
• 7.8%
• Vanilla
• Cookies and Cream
• Others

Leading Companies in the Global Meal Replacement Market

Major players are making substantial investments in product innovation and are developing personalised nutrition solutions to suit various consumer health needs. The meal replacement market revenue is also increasing due to the expansion of digital commerce and improvements in marketing campaigns by companies.

Soylent Nutrition, Inc.

Soylent Nutrition, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in California, United States. It specialises in producing health and wellness solutions including plant-based meal replacement formulations.

GNC Holdings, LLC

GNC Holdings, LLC was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Pennsylvania, United States. It specialises in producing pre-workout shakes and powders, protein supplements, and superfoods, along with collagen boosting products.

Vega US, LLC

Vega US, LLC was founded in 2001, and specialises in producing plant-based protein shakes and powders, apart from electrolyte hydration formulas.

Huel Limited.

Huel Limited. was established in 2015 and is based in Hertfordshire, England. It has sold over 400,000,000 meals in nearly 150 countries worldwide. Its meals are created from 100% ethically sourced ingredients and are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Other players included in the meal replacement market report are Herbalife Nutrition Ltd., SlimFast & WorldPantry.com LLC, Abbott Nutrition, Nestle SA (Orgain, LLC), Vybey, and PepsiCo, Inc. (CytoSport, Inc.), among others.