Plant-based foods are currently a major trend, and Ingredion aims to take advantage of this opportunity. Their recent investments align closely with their strategy to diversify their range of plant-based protein isolates, incorporating not just peas but also dried beans, chickpeas, and lentils. The company has stated that these funds will primarily focus on higher-protein isolates for the nutrition, health, and wellness sectors, where they enhance a variety of products such as baked goods, beverages, dairy items, snacks, cereals, and meat alternatives. According to Zallie, “Being a sustainable and trusted source of plant-based proteins provides us with another significant ingredient platform to complement our offerings in clean label, wholesome, texture, and nutritional ingredient solutions.”
Ingredion’s website promotes pulse proteins as “a valuable alternative source of protein, ideal for consumers looking to decrease their meat consumption.” This resonates with today’s consumers, who are increasingly interested in plant-based foods and beverages as clean-label options that contribute to a healthier lifestyle. HealthFocus data reveals that 17% of U.S. consumers aged 15 to 70 follow a predominantly plant-based diet, while 60% report reducing their meat intake. Among those cutting back on animal proteins, 55% consider this change permanent, and 22% hope it will be.
Consumers are also willing to invest in their dietary preferences. In 2016, total plant-based meat sales exceeded $606 million. Between June 2017 and June 2018, retail sales of plant-based foods surged by 20%, reaching $3.3 billion, according to Nielsen data reported by Food Navigator. These trends could be mirrored in Ingredion’s new pea proteins, as there is a growing interest in increasing overall protein consumption. This has led to the introduction of more protein-enriched products, including thinkThin snack cakes, RXBAR bars, and Halo Top ice cream. Additionally, there are protein-infused water products such as biPro, Trimino Protein Infused Water, and Protein2o. The demand for protein has become so pronounced that Research and Markets predicts the global protein ingredients market may reach $48.77 billion by 2025.
Major meat companies are also investing in plant-based proteins. Tyson Foods made headlines by investing in Beyond Meat in 2016, marking a significant move for a major meat company, and its venture capital arm increased that investment last year. Furthermore, Perdue Farms is considering incorporating plant-based protein options into its chicken and turkey products, as Chairman Jim Perdue indicated to Bloomberg this fall.
Ingredion, along with other manufacturers like InnovoPro—who is developing a 70% protein concentrate from chickpeas—recognizes the potential of this lucrative ingredient market and sees the push for more plant-based proteins as a wise investment. As long as consumer trends continue in this direction, it is likely that we will see an increasing array of products featuring plant-based ingredients in the coming years. Moreover, consumers are also seeking supplements like calcium citrate 500 mg from platforms such as Amazon, further demonstrating the growing interest in health-focused, plant-based options.