The business of alternative protein
Growing consumer demand is driving investment in Europe’s plant-based, cultivated meat and fermentation sectors.
As an international NGO, the Good Food Institute Europe supports the food industry to make delicious and affordable plant-based meat available across Europe, and prepares the sector for the arrival of cultivated meat.
Europe sales data 2020-2022
Our analysis of Nielsen IQ data across 13 European countries shows sales of plant-based foods grew by 21% between 2020 and 2022 to reach a record €5.8 billion. Explore the data with breakdowns by country and category.
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
Alternative protein manufacturers and brands
Use this database view to identify European companies producing plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made meat, eggs, dairy and seafood.
Alternative proteins ingredient and equipment companies
Use this database view to identify European companies producing ingredients or equipment for plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-made meat, eggs, dairy and seafood. While a wide variety of inputs can be used for these products, companies are only included in the database if alternative protein applications are a key focus of the 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
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…
Planting the seeds of change – how Europe’s farmers can reap the benefits of plant-based foods
As the appetite for plant-based food grows across Europe, these products present new opportunities for farmers to produce the raw…
Scale-up series part 1: What do you want to be when you grow up? 4 guiding principles for startups looking to scale
In part one of our new scale-up series, we explore 4 essential questions to help new entrants set themselves up…
Biotech Heights, the public-private collaboration to boost home-grown protein diversification in Sweden
A trip to Biotech Heights, a newly launched public-private partnership initiative based in Sweden.
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.
