2025
9
US Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Protein Report 2025
2025-03-19T18:03:56+00:00
REP125B75B7_7217_4F35_A071_F780D11276F8
3695
180697
[{"name":"Food","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food"},{"name":"Ingredients and Additives","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/ingredients-additives"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"US","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/us-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Value-added proteins are about meeting consumer demands. A brands' ability to shape-shift the positioning of their products can keep versatile and included in more routines. Adriana Chychula, Analyst - Food,…
US
Food
Ingredients and Additives
simple

US Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Protein Report 2025

Value-added proteins are about meeting consumer demands. A brands' ability to shape-shift the positioning of their products can keep versatile and included in more routines.

Trusted by leading global brands

Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Market predictions
    • What consumers want & why
    • Opportunities
    • Health: just add a side of fiber
    • Graph 1: reasons for decreasing value-added protein consumption, 2025
    • Walk consumers through food safety
    • Distinguish through nutrient density
    • Umami as a solution to sodium reduction
    • Bold and familiar, easy and mess-free
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market context
    • State of the market
    • Strong animal protein engagement, ample opportunity
    • Graph 2: protein consumption over last six months, 2025
    • Significant portion of consumers engaging in value-added options
    • Graph 3: value-added protein purchase, 2025
    • Mixing and matching calls for varied portfolios
    • Graph 4: protein format purchase, by protein format purchase, 2025
    • Market drivers
    • Regulatory shake-ups, food safety concerns
    • FDA amendment to “healthy” definition, front-of-pack labeling
    • The big picture of public health
    • Graph 5: reasons for decreasing value-added protein consumption, 2025
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts
    • Protein format consumption
    • The balance between shortcuts and effort
    • Graph 6: protein format purchase, 2025
    • Younger consumers leading value-added options
    • Graph 7: protein format purchase, 2025
    • Support entire financial wellness spectrum
    • Graph 8: typical protein preparation, by financial situation, 2025
    • Typical protein preparation/flavor application
    • Ease consumers into more effort-intensive prep methods
    • Graph 9: typical protein preparation/flavor applications, 2025
    • Encourage creativity among younger consumers
    • Graph 10: typical preparation/flavor applications, by generation, 2025
    • Foster joy of cooking across financial spectrum
    • Graph 11: typical protein preparation/flavor applications, by financial status, 2025
    • Changes in value-added protein consumption
    • Wide target of consumers engaging in protein shortcuts
    • Graph 12: changes in value-added protein consumption, 2025
    • A look at who’s increasing
    • Graph 13: changes in value-added protein consumption, by generation, 2025
    • Graph 14: changes in value-added protein consumption, by financial health, 2025
    • Ease barriers to at-home accomplishments
    • Graph 15: reasons for increased value-added protein consumption, 2025
    • Support older consumers’ wellness endeavors
    • Graph 16: reasons for increasing value-added protein consumption, by generation, 2025
    • Financially inclusive wellness
    • Graph 17: reasons for increasing value-added protein consumption, 2025
    • Work around health hang-ups
    • Graph 18: reasons for decreasing value-added protein consumption, 2025
    • Motivations for increasing value-added protein purchase
    • Maintain financial sensitivity
    • Graph 19: motivations for increasing value-added protein purchase, 2025
    • Empower younger consumers with diverse prep methods
    • Graph 20: motivations for increasing value-added protein purchase, 2025
    • Health can command a premium
    • Graph 21: motivations for increased value-added protein purchase, by financial status, 2025
    • Interest and experience in flavors, by occasion
    • Build flavor intensity throughout the day – and encourage Rule Rebellion
    • Ease in with breakfast
    • Graph 22: breakfast, 2025
    • Let innovation fly at lunch
    • Graph 23: lunch, 2025
    • Break rules at dinner
    • Graph 24: dinner, 2025
    • Interest and experience in flavors and preparation methods
    • Convert curious consumers with the right descriptors
    • Graph 25: interest and experience in flavor, 2025
    • Younger consumers’ tastes decidedly global
    • Graph 26: interest and experience in flavor, by generation, 2025
    • “Premium” processing?
    • Graph 27: interest and experience in flavor, by financial health, 2025
    • Opinions toward value-added proteins
    • Overall positive reception positions brands for increased engagement
    • Graph 28: opinions toward value-added proteins, 2025
    • Break younger consumers out of the familiar
    • Graph 29: opinions toward value-added proteins, by generation, 2025
    • Connect with financially comfortable consumers through product backstories
    • Graph 30: opinions toward value-added proteins, by financial status, 2025
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • Conagra’s “on track” claims provide guidance for GLP-1 users
    • Walmart bettergoods embrace affordability
    • Bold concepts entering periphery through foodservice
    • Product development: what’s now
    • Nutritional highlights
    • Foodservice, brand inspiration
    • Product development: what’s near
    • Cross-category inspiration
    • Chef-elevated products
    • Product development: what’s next
    • City-specific inspiration
    • Familiar formats, reimagined
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
Download Report Summary

More consumers are cooking at home, and value-added proteins support them in cooking from scratch, and help them maintain their habits.

Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Protein — Current Landscape

Because cooking from scratch all the time is nearly impossible for most consumers, they use convenience-enhanced protein options.

However, rising health consciousness causes some consumers to cut back. However, there are ways to boost perceptions and support wellness ideals outside of product formulations. Where flavor and ingredient innovation is concerned, thinking outside the category and tapping into familiar favorites offers endless potential.

Statistics on Trending Flavors in Protein

  • Protein Consumption Trends: 39% of US-Americans are trying to eat healthier, and are therefore decreasing value-added protein consumption.
  • The US Protein Ingredient Market: 37% of consumers wish US food products had stricter regulations, for example, the banning of additives that are already prohibited in the EU.

Trending Flavors and Ingredients in Protein Report — What’s Inside?

Key Topics Analysed in this Report

  • External factors impacting the value-added protein market.
  • Protein format consumption and preparation methods.
  • Changes in value-added protein consumption trends.
  • Reasons for increasing and decreasing value-added protein consumption.
£ 3,695 excl. Tax
Secure direct checkout
Instant PDF download
Portal access included
Need help deciding? Get in touch

Trusted by global industry leaders

Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Waitrose & Partners logo

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Bauer Media Group logo

We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.

They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.

Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML