US Protein Report: Meat and Meat Alternatives Market Report
$4,995 (Excl.Tax)
Description
This report provides comprehensive and current information and analysis of the meat and meat alternatives market including meat and meat alternatives market size, anticipated market forecast, relevant market segmentation, and industry trends for the meat and meat alternatives market in the US.
Current market landscape
Plant-based protein’s rise to mainstream awareness and accessibility has not diminished animal protein’s place in US consumers’ diets, with 94% of consumers having eaten some form of animal protein in the last six months compared to 18% who report plant-based protein consumption. Although animal proteins are on the chopping block for health, environmental and ethical concerns, consumers are turning to plant-based options as more of a complement to their diets rather than a full replacement. Plant-based proteins will slowly continue creeping into regular consumer use with each iteration that improves upon flavor and texture profiles, as consumers feel increasingly pressured to make lifestyle changes that favor “better for us” initiatives.
Market share and key industry trends
- 90% of consumers self-identify as meateating.
- 94% of consumers report having eaten a form of animal protein in the last six months.
- 20% of flexitarians report daily poultry consumption compared to 18% of meat eaters.
- 49% of consumers aged 18-34 value low price in protein purchasing, compared to 38% of those aged 55+.
Future market trends in meat and meat alternatives
Inflation’s effect on all protein segments will lead many consumers to recalculate their definitions of value, with the value of sheer dollar savings on one end of the spectrum and the value of pure mealtime indulgence on the other. Where health and environmental expectations fall on the spectrum will be determined by individuals and their sense of urgency to take personal action in either sector.
The biggest threat to animal proteins is the threat of product availability in the face of global food supply unpredictability, which had not yet recovered from lockdown-era disruptions before the crisis in Ukraine threw more kinks in the chain. All protein brands can establish consumer trust and build brand loyalty in times of uncertainty through full transparency in ingredient profiles, processing methods and company initiatives with flavor and meal ideas that make consumers look forward to cooking at home.
Read on to discover more about the meat and meat alternatives consumer market, read our US Plant-based Proteins Market Report 2022, or take a look at our other Food research reports.
Quickly understand alternative meats and new foods
- Influence of market factors on protein sales and consumer behavior.
- Successful protein brands, marketing strategies and innovation opportunity areas.
- Protein consumption formats and frequency.
- Important animal and plant-based protein attributes.
- Protein associations and attitudes.
Covered in this meat and meat alternatives market report
Brands include: Tyson Foods Inc, Perdue Farms, Dongwon Industries, Hormel Foods Corporation, Interstate Meat Distributors, FCF Fishery Co, JBS USA, Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Rich Products, Tri-Union Seafoods, Barber Foods, Jennie-O, Butterball, Just Bare, Pilgrims, Wahlburgers, Smithfield, Hickory Foods, Bubba, Fast Fixin, IBP, Steak Umm, Quaker Maid Meats, Philly, Meyer Natural Foods, Laura’s, Gourmet Burger, Starkist, Bumble Bee, Gortons, Chicken of the Sea, Seapak, Shining Ocean, Aquamar, Sea Best, Fan De Kamps, Aqua Star, Great American Seafood, Stanley Pearlman, UPSIDE Foods, Cargill, Eat Just, Beyond Burger, Whole Foods Market, Chick’n Nuggets, Force of Nature, Laura’s Lean.
Expert analysis from a specialist in the field
This report, written by Adriana Chychula, a leading analyst in the Food, Drink and Nutrition sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis on meat and meat alternatives market research to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
Protein is the focal point of consumers’ plates as well as discussions of health, sustainability and ethics. As consumers continue to lean on home cooking during inflation’s prolonged grip on wallets, they must decide how their definitions of value translate into their protein purchasing priorities. Balancing mealtime satisfaction with affordability, nutrition profiles and environmental impact is a consumer calculation further muddled by global food chain complexities that threaten product accessibility itself. Both animal and plant-based protein brands can help simplify decisions by leveraging utmost transparency in their labeling and value communications.
Adriana Chychula
Food, Drink, and Nutrition Analyst
Table of Contents
-
Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
-
Executive Summary
- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 2: Total US sales and forecast of protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 3: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of plant-based protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 4: Total US sales and forecast of plant-based protein, at current prices, 2017-27
-
- Figure 5: Category outlook, 2022-27
- Opportunities and challenges
- Affordable high-protein products can pique younger consumers’ interest
- Figure 6: Protein consumption, by type, by generation, 2022
- Figure 7: Important protein attributes, by generation, 2022
- Carve out space for indulgence
- Figure 8: Correspondence analysis – Symmetrical map – Protein associations, 2022
- Leverage transparency whenever possible
- Figure 9: Animal-based protein priorities, NET any rank, 2022
- Expand healthful options to retain animal protein-preferring consumers
- Figure 10: Reasons for plant-based protein consumption, 2022
-
Market Size and Forecast
- Inflation to keep animal protein sales temporarily elevated
- Figure 11: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 12: Total US sales and forecast of protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Plant-based protein’s sprint slows to a jog
- Figure 13: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of plant-based protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 14: Total US sales and forecast of plant-based protein, at current prices, 2017-27
- Inflation to keep animal protein sales temporarily elevated
-
Segment Performance
- Inflation and home cooking buoy all protein segments
- Poultry’s position as affordable protein provides slight advantage
- Red meat’s year-over-year increase in part due to CPI bump
- Fish and shellfish to coast through 2027
- Figure 15: Total US retail sales and forecast of protein, by segment, at current prices, 2017-27
- Consumers pursuing value through cost savings opportunities
- Figure 16: Total US retail sales of protein, by channel, at current prices, 2020 and 2022
- Figure 17: Poultry, fish and meat product releases, by store type, rolling quarters 2021-22
-
Market Factors
- Animal proteins crowned a core feature of American diets
- Figure 18: Dietary preferences, 2022
- Figure 19: Poultry consumption frequency, by dietary preference, 2022
-
- Figure 20: Red meat consumption frequency, by dietary preference, 2022
- Health concerns may tip the scale in favor of animal meat reduction
- Figure 21: Age-adjusted prevalence of overweight, obesity and severe obesity among people aged 20 or older, 2001-02 to 2017-18
- Figure 22: Reasons for plant-based protein consumption, 2022
- A perfect storm leads to record-high meat prices
- Figure 23: Changes in Consumer Price Indexes for food, 2019 through 2022
- Animal proteins crowned a core feature of American diets
-
Market Share/Key Players
- Private label absorbs some market share
- Sales of protein, by company, 2021 and 2022
- Figure 24: Multi-outlet sales of protein, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Just Bare Chicken answers calls for simplicity
- Figure 25: Just Bare Chicken Instagram post
- Figure 26: Multi-outlet sales of poultry, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Wahlburgers blends appeal to full range of red meat-loving consumers
- Figure 27: Wahlburgers Flex Blend
- Figure 28: Multi-outlet sales of red meat, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Aquamar becomes second-largest North American surimi producer
- Figure 29: Multi-outlet sales of fish and shellfish, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
-
Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
- Cellular meat advancing toward mainstream consumer accessibility
- Advancements in alternative proteins expand consumer options, but not all meat eaters are impressed
- Figure 30: Beyond Burger Plant-Based Patties
- Figure 31: Beyond Meat Facebook post
- Lean into consumer preference for savory, smoky flavors
- Figure 32: Top 10 meat and meat alternative release flavors, May 2021-May 2022*
- Figure 33: Cold-Smoked Everything Bagel Sockeye Salmon
-
The Protein Consumer: Fast Facts
- Nearly all consumers eat meat
- Health consciousness is the main hurdle to sustained meat engagement
- Younger consumers will shop around for the best deal
- Consumers seek to reconnect with food source
-
Protein Consumption
- Animal-based proteins reign as focal point of consumer diets
- Figure 34: Protein consumption, by type, 2020-22
- Plant-based protein options speak to younger consumers’ values
- Figure 35: Protein consumption, by type, by generation, 2022
- Protein affordability woes put “value” definitions in question
- Figure 36: Protein consumption, by type, by household income, 2022
- Animal-based proteins reign as focal point of consumer diets
-
Protein Consumption Frequency
- Lean into chicken’s dynamic versatility to maintain momentum
- Figure 37: Protein consumption frequency, 2022
-
- Figure 38: Protein consumption frequency, by protein type, 2022
- Target younger plant-curious consumers with familiar favorites
- Figure 39: Plant-based meat substitute consumption, by age, 2022
-
- Figure 40: Plant-Based Chick’n Nuggets
- Figure 41: Perdue Chicken Plus
- Lean into chicken’s dynamic versatility to maintain momentum
-
Important Protein Attributes
- Coax hesitant consumers with familiar flavors, transparent pricing
- Figure 42: Important protein attributes, 2022
- Consumers want affordable proteins from brands they trust
- Figure 43: Important protein attributes, TURF analysis, 2022
- Premiumizations reassure consumers of unfamiliar products’ quality
- Figure 44: Important protein attributes, by protein consumption, 2022
- Younger consumers receptive to processed protein products
- Figure 45: Important protein attributes, by generation, 2022
- Coax hesitant consumers with familiar flavors, transparent pricing
-
Animal-Based Protein Priorities
- Consumers look for healthful simplicity from animal proteins
- Figure 46: Animal-based protein priorities, NET any rank, 2022
- Figure 47: 100% Grass-Fed Ground Bison
-
- Figure 48: Ingredients of an All-Natural Egg
- Urban consumers want to reestablish connections to food source
- Figure 49: Animal-based protein priorities, by area, 2022
- Consumers look for healthful simplicity from animal proteins
-
Reasons for Plant-Based Protein Consumption
- Plant-based eating motivations born from animal-based shortcomings
- Figure 50: Reasons for plant-based protein consumption, any rank, 2022
- Plant-based eating motivations born from animal-based shortcomings
-
Protein Associations
- Consumers have distinct uses for different proteins
- Poultry satisfies cravings for affordable convenience
- Give permission for guilty pleasures
- Figure 51: Meyer Natural Facebook post
- Figure 52: Laura’s Lean Facebook post
- Plant-based protein struggles against “mystery meat” factor
- Figure 53: Correspondence analysis – Symmetrical map – Protein associations, 2022
-
- Figure 54: Protein associations, 2022
-
Protein Attitudes
- Consumers (reluctantly) warming up to plant-based options
- Figure 55: Protein attitudes, 2022
- Dads look forward to a future of guilt-free meats
- Figure 56: Protein attitudes, by gender, by parental status, 2022
- Consumers (reluctantly) warming up to plant-based options
-
Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
-
Appendix – The Market
-
- Figure 57: Average annual household spending on protein, 2017-22
- Figure 58: Total US retail sales and forecast of protein, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 59: Total US retail sales and forecast of plant-based meat substitutes, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 60: Total US retail sales of protein, by segment, at current prices, 2020 and 2022
-
- Figure 61: Total US retail sales and forecast of poultry, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 62: Total US retail sales and forecast of poultry, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 63: Total US retail sales and forecast of red meat, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 64: Total US retail sales and forecast of red meat, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
-
- Figure 65: Total US retail sales and forecast of fish and shellfish, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 66: Total US retail sales and forecast of fish and shellfish, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 67: Per capita consumption of poultry and livestock, 1965 to forecast 2022
-
-
Appendix – TURF Analysis Methodology
-
- Figure 68: Table – TURF Analysis – Important protein factors, 2022
-
-
Appendix – Correspondence Analysis Methodology
About the report
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
Market
Mintel provides a range of market information, frequently through the category level, including market size and forecasting, complete with market drivers that illustrate the forces that shape a category or market.
Consumer
Mintel’s proprietary consumer research provides our analysts with the attitudinal and behavioral data used to provide valuable insight to topical issues.
Brand/Company
Mintel provides overviews of the top brands and manufacturers, and uses consumer research to explore attitudes and reactions to brands, as well as insight into what will resonate with consumers.
Data
Market reports provide appendices of data to support the research and insight produced. Our tables of data are easily manipulated and downloadable to support your research needs and covers factors from consumer attitudes to market forecasts.
Below is a sample report, understand what you are buying.
Please Note: This is a sample report. All of the figures, graphs, and tables have been redacted. Our reports are available to download in PDF and PPT formats.
Trusted by companies. Big and small.
