The Future of Meat and Poultry 2026
With a meat renaissance now formally ratified by the new US Dietary Guidelines, meat and poultry will meet new occasions, health needs and long-term resilience.
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- Where we are now
- In the next two years
- In five years and beyond
- Animal protein is back on the menu
- Ongoing trade deal turmoil will strengthen scrutiny of origin
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IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
- Mintel's perspective
- Redefining the meat-centric occasion
- Rising beef prices will offer other proteins a chance to shine at special occasions
- Pork brands will look to the UK for premium, preparation and plating cues
- Meat brands will more actively recognise less-common cultural celebrations
- Graph 1: "It's important to me that the protein I consume aligns with my religious or cultural dietary practices" (any agree), newer vs established Canadians, 2025
- Meat products will be positioned as convenient shortcuts to showstopping festival meals
- UK retailer Tesco offers marketing inspiration for Ramadan campaigns
- As the definition of comfort food evolves, meat and poultry brands will respond
- Fascination with Asian cuisine will push the boundaries of flavour and format
- Meat will tell a bigger nutrition story
- Meat ingredients will align with macronutrient mentality
- Brands will leverage the meat renaissance to remind consumers of its broader nutritional value
- Pork cuts will champion their B vitamin content to improve health associations
- Graph 2: associations, by select protein type, 2025
- Meat snacks have an opportunity to move beyond the gym bro
- Meat snacks will soften their marketing to widen their appeal
- Graph 3: select important reasons to get enough protein in your diet, by gender, 2025
- Meat snacks will position themselves as a healthier alternative to sugary treats
- Singing Pastures and Mission Meats actively appeal to women and children
- Diversification will help to unlock new consumer priorities
- Dietary diversity holds potential for hybrids 2.0
- Graph 4: interest in select concepts from food and drink brands, 2024
- Prioritising flavour and 'cheffy' terms will move hybrids away from compromise
- Purposeful processing will help hybrid products tap into flavour and function
- Brands will boost sustainability circularity through bone broth
- Upcycling will become increasingly pertinent within animal protein renaissance
- Snacks, soup bases and supplements offer meat brands avenues for upcycling
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IN FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND
- Mintel's perspective
- Wild venison will position itself as helping the environment, not hindering it
- As climate change intensifies, pasture-raised claims will need to be re-assessed
- Meat and poultry brands will demonstrate how they are taking the lead on weatherproofing farms
- With food security on consumer radar, cell-based meat's rationale will evolve
- Cell-based meat will look to EVs* for messaging cues and social media for its viral moment
- MrBeast gives cell-based meat its viral moment
- Key takeaways
Discover the future trends in the global meat and poultry market with Mintel’s Future Of report. The report identifies the key consumer and industry trends that will impact the global meat and poultry industry over the next five years.
The most important upcoming trends in the meat and poultry market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside relevant insights from Mintel’s consumer data. So you can understand how consumer demands will change and identify future innovation and growth opportunities.
Key Meat Industry Trends Covered in the Report
- Diversification will help to unlock new consumer priorities
- Meat will tell a bigger nutrition story
- Welfare in a warming world
Purchase the full report for a complete breakdown of the trends shaping the future of the meat and poultry industry. Alongside Mintel’s pick of the most innovative and inspirational meat and poultry launches introduced to the global market.
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