These Five High-Protein Foods Are In High Demand, Is Your Company Producing Them?

By Isaac Fletcher, contributing writer, Food Online

More than ever before, consumers are seeking functional, high-protein foods, providing food manufacturers the opportunity to innovate with new protein sources and high-protein food formats

With research indicating that 62 percent of consumers are trying to eat more protein, there are many opportunities for food product developers. As the interest in functional foods continues to rise, protein has ended up in the spotlight, and high-protein foods that serve multiple functions are very well positioned within the market. Some of these foods include probiotic, drinkable yogurt for digestive health, almonds for heart health and weight loss, and various snack bars for energy.

As producers climb aboard the high-protein foods train, many of the products that claim to be high-protein are exactly those that you would expect, like Greek yogurt and snack bars. However, high-protein foods are also coming in unexpected forms, such as Chef Boyardee products. Furthermore, some restaurant chains like Taco Bell, with its Power Protein bowls and burritos, and Panera Bread, with a high-protein Power Menu, are honing in on the rising demand for proteins and functional foods.

There are many areas in which producers can capture consumer interest by offering products focused on nutrition and functional benefits. High-protein formulations could be applied to ancient grain drinks, nut butters, and protein paired with packaged produce. There are a handful of high-protein food types that can be expected to experience growth in the near future.

Almonds And Nut Butters
Nuts have recently been positioned as heart-healthy and high in protein, which has redefined almonds and various nut butters to be healthy snack options. Growth in this area is driven by organic and natural products, convenient and portable formats, and various indulgent options.

Drinkable Yogurt
The yogurt market is slated to reach $9.3 billion by 2017, which means niche segments, such as drinkable yogurt, should experience continued growth. Kefir, a fermented-milk drink made with kefir “grains,” has become a leading dairy source of protein thanks to its digestive health benefits, probiotics, and, of course, protein. Growth in demand for this type of product is also spurred by innovations like vegetable-based kefirs made from tomatoes, cucumbers, and beets. On top of the other benefits, vegetable-based kefirs also provide a full serving of vegetables, which helps entice consumers further.

Exotic Meats
The trend of craft foods and beverages has opened opportunities for many industry segments, and meats are no exception. With consumers becoming increasingly interested in meats that are not mass produced, items like charcuterie platters, craft salami, and wild boar are gaining traction. While these offerings typically only appear on fine-dining menus, there may be opportunity to bring the craft elements into a retail environment.

Meat Protein Analogs
While meat is an excellent source of protein, improvements in quality and variety are making vegetarian protein sources more popular. Many consumers are interested in meatless protein alternatives, such as egg-less eggs and chicken and beef substitutes. With 28 percent of consumers looking for vegetarian sources of protein, producers are provided the opportunity to develop vegetarian products that are healthy, flavorful, and created with sustainable ingredients.

More Substantial Snack Bars
People love snacking. The rising popularity of snack foods has given producers the incentive and opportunity to create products that cater to this demand. High-protein snack bars, made with nuts or fortified with vegetable protein, are becoming the go-to snack for many consumers. With some bars offering up to 10 grams of protein, they are pushing traditional granola bars to the side and meeting the demand for functional food snacking.