The business of alternative proteins

Growing consumer demand is driving investment in Europe’s plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation sectors.

As a nonprofit and think tank, the Good Food Institute Europe provides open-access resources and leads initiatives to help facilitate diverse and innovative plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation industries.

Consumer demand for alternative proteins is important for industry

Europe sales data 2021-early 2024

Our analysis of Circana data across 6 key European countries shows sales of plant-based foods grew by 5.5% in value and 3.5% in volume in 2023. Explore the data with breakdowns by country and category.

plant-based pizza
a n illustration of a plant-based steak dreaming about future scale-up
Image created using DALL-E

Scale-up series

What do you want to be when you grow up? In the first instalment of our new scale-up series, we explore ways to successfully build a sustainable growth strategy in the emerging plant-based, fermentation-made and cultivated meat sectors, beginning with four key questions startups should be asking themselves. 

The food industry is cut-throat, and growing a startup to a mature company is an incredibly difficult journey, read the full blog for more on how alternative protein companies can begin to approach this challenge, and learn more about how these questions apply in the real-world. 

European alternative protein company database

Explore the landscape of plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation companies in Europe. Use the database to stay up-to-date on startups, food manufacturers, and ingredient and equipment companies active in the sector.

Company database

Alternative protein company database

Use this database view to identify European companies producing plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made meat, eggs, dairy and seafood. 

Add a company

Add a company to the database

While the alternative protein company database is intended to be as comprehensive as possible, it is not an exhaustive list. Know a company that is not here? Submit their information in the form below.

Request an update

Request an update to the database

Spot something that needs updating? Please use the form below to request a change to any information displayed, including product type, technology focus, description, location, website, or parent company.

Global company database

Global company database

Visit GFI’s global company database to explore alternative protein companies around the world, add companies that aren’t on our list, or request updates to our data.

Latest industry news

Spotlight on… Finland – the north star of alternative proteins

Finland has become an alternative protein powerhouse over recent years – not that you would know that from talking to…

Plant-based meat and milk are now mainstream choices for British consumers

There’s no doubt it’s been a tough few years for the UK’s plant-based sector – in common with other parts of…

Plant-based food products

Plant-based goes mainstream as European retail sales grow 

New analysis shows that sales of plant-based foods in six key European countries grew by 5.5% to €5.4 billion last…

Before and after: 5 years of GFI Europe in 6 maps

On 22 August 2019, GFI Europe was founded. To celebrate GFI Europe’s fifth ‘birthday’, we’re taking a look at the…

European investment figures point to an evolving alternative protein sector

The latest alternative protein investment data reveals valuable insights into how Europe’s sector is evolving – as well as the challenges…

Scale-up series part 3: Build a force-multiplying team

In part three of our scale-up series, we explore the best way to plan and build a rock-solid team for…

Meet the researcher: Boosting alternative protein research at ICL’s new Bezos Centre for Sustainable Proteins with Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro

A new centre based at Imperial College London aims to revolutionise the development of alternative proteins.

Scale-up series part 2: Your target market(s) may change over time, and that’s okay

In part two of our new scale-up series, we highlight the importance of finding the right market for your product…

Plant-based cafe

GFI’s global corporate engagement

GFI’s business experts work with investors and entrepreneurs across the private sector to advance the alternative protein industry and enable market breakthroughs. Learn more about their work.