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.
Europe plant-based sales data 2023-2025
Our analysis of Circana data across six key European countries shows that plant-based food sales are growing in France, Germany, Italy and Spain as the price gap with animal products narrows, but taste remains an important factor. Explore the data with breakdowns by country and plant-based category.
European consumer insights
What do European consumers think about plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made proteins? This page summarises some of the key consumer insights available from open-access research on the European alternative protein market.
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.
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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.
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 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 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
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.
Resources for investors and industry
Our industry experts
Latest industry news
Europe’s plant-based food retail market grows as prices become more competitive, but good taste remains key
Data from six European countries show that the price gap between plant-based foods and their animal-based equivalents narrowed in most…
The history of precision fermentation: How the future of food has been on your plate for decades
Precision fermentation promises to deliver next-generation developments – offering fats and proteins that can bring the taste and texture of…
Research finds alternative proteins could boost EU economy by €111 billion by 2040
Alternative proteins could add €111 billion a year to the EU’s economy by 2040 if treated as a strategic priority,…
Meet the 2026 GFI research grantees shaping the future of alternative proteins in Europe
Discover the latest research projects selected for the GFI Research Grant Program, driving alternative protein innovation in Europe.
The base is strong, now it’s time to grow: how 2025 set the stage for the next phase of Europe’s protein transition
In the world at large and for alternative proteins, 2025 has been a year of turbulence. Beneath the surface, however,…
Scale-up series part 5: No offtake, no scale
In part five of our series to help startups in the alternative protein field grow, we explore how creative offtake…
As food prices rocket, the UK government can kick-start supply chains to help farmers benefit from plant-based meat
Although our supermarkets bulge with more choice than ever, this masks an uncomfortable reality – our food system is becoming…
New fermentation methods could add nearly £10 billion to UK economy by 2050, research shows
New research has estimated that, given the right support, innovative ways of producing everyday foods using fermentation could add £9.8…
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.