Recent product innovations and health & wellness macrotrends show that plant-based brands offering protein-added benefits will stimulate the next phase of growth. Already, national CPGs like Danone are bringing a protein value proposition to their legacy lines.
Regional Indian cuisines are quickly becoming America’s next big flavor wave, with soaring Yelp searches, viral tiffin videos, and high-profile restaurant openings shining a spotlight on Kerala, Goa, Nagaland, the Himalayas, and beyond.
As investors managing $11.5 trillion push food giants like Danone, Walmart, and Amazon to diversify their protein portfolios, the message is clear: Sustainability and resilience depend on innovation. From mycelium to electro-fermented proteins, emerging alt-protein technologies are reshaping the future of food production, and investors are hoping to fund it.
Now that the plant-based market has matured, it must contend with many of the same problems as the meat industry, including eking out margins as consumers tighten their wallets. However, dairy alternatives continue to be a bright spot for the sector.
