Mycoprotein Market

How Big is the Mycoprotein Market in 2026?

The mycoprotein market is valued at USD 362.5 million in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 778.1 million by 2036, growing at a 7.9% CAGR as per FMI synthetic survey

Spending on mycoprotein reached USD 336.0 Million in 2025 and is estimated at USD 362.5 Million in 2026, as per FMI. Revenue will more than double to USD 778.1 Million by 2036 at a 7.9% CAGR, opening USD 415.6 Million of new sales for fungal protein producers. Meat still dominates the protein budget, as the average American spent USD 870 on meat in 2024, US meat sales reached a record USD 104.6 billion, and only 22.0% of Americans wanted to eat less meat [1].

Against a protein budget still built around meat, mycoprotein remains a small line on the plate, and category growth will come from small, repeated swaps of a few servings a month in mince, sauces and ready meals, and full conversion of meat eaters will not be needed to double revenue. Producers pricing close to meat will turn those swaps into weekly purchase, and blended products are already lowering the switching barrier for shoppers who still want meat on the plate.

Analysts at FMI see blended and snacking formats as the nearest volume levers for producers still rebuilding margins. Marlow Foods reported that Quorn sales fell 1.0% in 2025 after a 9.0% decline in 2024, and the underlying operating loss halved from GBP 12 million to GBP 6 million [2]. Investment in clean-label mince, protein snacks and foodservice blends will separate producers that turn fermentation capacity into margin from those carrying idle plant cost.

Key Takeaways of Mycoprotein Market

• Minced formats will hold 42.3% of form type market share in 2026, the largest of four forms.
• Submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) will account for 86.4% of production method share in 2026.
• Key companies include Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn), Meati Holdings, Nature's Fynd, The Better Meat Co., and Enough (Abunda), and the full report covers many more players.
• Japan will grow fastest at a 10.2% CAGR, and South Korea will grow slowest at 8.1%.

Analyst Perspective

“In my view, the next stage of mycoprotein growth will come from lower-cost fermentation capacity and B2B supply contracts with meat processors. Producers that secure those contracts will move the category from niche retail shelves into mainstream protein volume through the decade.”

- Nandini Roy Choudhury, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights

How is the Mycoprotein Market Segmented?

Two product lenses, form type and production method, sit alongside a seven-region view of mycoprotein demand.

Form type covers minced, sliced, powdered, and other forms.
Production method covers submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF).

Why Does Minced Lead the Mycoprotein Market by Form Type?

Minced mycoprotein will account for 42.3% of form type market share in 2026, the largest slice among four forms.

Food manufacturers adding a meat-free option need an ingredient that slots into existing recipes and production lines, and small-particle mince fits that brief better than any other form. Mince drops into bolognese, burgers and fillings with no new cooking habits, and processors can form the material on existing plant equipment. In a June 2026 survey of 3,500 consumers, mince ranked as the second most preferred blended meat format after sausages, chosen by 33.0% of UK and 27.0% of German respondents [3].

• Recipe breadth and easy use in formed foods will give minced formats 42.3% of form type revenue in 2026.
• In May 2026, Quorn returned a 230g chilled mince to Tesco and Sainsbury's at a GBP 2.79 RRP, made with four ingredients and no artificial ingredients [4].

Why Does Submerged Liquid Fermentation Lead the Mycoprotein Market by Production Method?

At 86.4%, submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) will account for the highest market share by production method in 2026.

Producers scaling fungal protein need repeatable batches, and liquid bioreactors give tight control over aeration, nutrients and temperature, so buyers receive consistent protein content and texture. As per FMI, submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) will hold 86.4% of production method revenue in 2026. Quorn, Meati and The Better Meat Co. all grow fungal biomass in liquid fermentation, and that installed base will keep SLF well ahead of solid-state routes through the forecast period.

• Process control and proven industrial scale will support an 86.4% SLF share of production method revenue in 2026.
• In August 2025, The Better Meat Co. raised USD 31 million in Series A funding to scale Rhiza mycoprotein production, with a stated plan to beat beef on price by 2026 [5].

What are the Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities in the Mycoprotein Market?

As per FMI's analysis, meat reduction in familiar meals will drive sales, price gaps and fermentation cost will slow conversion, and blended meat will open a higher-volume revenue pool till 2036.

• Driver: Shoppers cutting back on meat can swap fungal mince or blends into familiar meals, giving producers a ready buyer base without asking for new cooking habits.
• Restraint: Price gaps with meat, doubts over taste and the cost of scaling fermentation keep many buyers at the trial stage.
• Opportunity: Adoption potential of blended meat and B2B biomass opens volume with meat processors and foodservice operators across the wider meat alternatives market.

Retail demand softened in mature markets, as Plant-based food sales in the UK totalled approximately £848 million in 2025, reflecting a 1.2% decline in value and a 2.5% fall in volume  [6]. Scale-up costs weighed on producers, and Meati Holdings took over the Meati assets at the end of October 2025 with a brand relaunch planned for 2026 [7]. Blends pull the other way, since UltiMeat from William White Meats and Quorn adds up to 3g of fibre per 100g and loses 5.0% in cooking against 18.0% for a conventional beef burger [8]. Retail softness and capital strain on one side, and a measurable yield gain for meat processors on the other, will point mycoprotein volume toward B2B blends, with cost per kilo and clean labels setting supplier choice.

Which Country CAGRs are Profiled in the Mycoprotein Market?

Country	CAGR, 2026 to 2036
Japan	10.2%
USA	9.9%
UK	9.3%
Germany	8.8%
South Korea	8.1%

How do Country-level CAGRs Compare in the Mycoprotein Market?

As per FMI's analysis, Asia sits at both ends of the profiled country range, with Japan leading at a 10.2% CAGR and South Korea recording the slowest rate at 8.1%. The USA at 9.9%, the UK at 9.3% and Germany at 8.8% fill the middle of a 2.1-point spread. Every profiled country will outpace the 7.9% global rate, so markets outside this group will grow more slowly on average and hold the global figure down. These rates measure speed only, and a slower-growing country will still be able to hold a larger revenue base.

• Japan, at 10.2%, gains from a public-private Food Tech council that lists alternative protein among the themes [9].
• A 9.9% CAGR in the USA will draw on fresh B2B fermentation capital, such as the USD 31 million Series A raised by The Better Meat Co. [5].
• UK demand, growing at 9.3%, starts from a mature base in which Quorn held 31.0% market share in 2025 [2].
• South Korea will grow slowest at 8.1%, as July 2026 food-tech policy is arriving ahead of local mycoprotein supply [10].

Regional growth rates are also modelled for North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa, with coverage extending to more than 25 countries and country groups.

Country Outlook

• Japan offers the quickest growth among the five profiled countries, at a 10.2% CAGR through 2036, and the route in runs through partnerships. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries runs a public-private Food Tech council that links industry, academia and government and lists alternative protein as a theme [9]. Suppliers joining such networks will reach local food makers faster, and minced fillings for ready meals backed by clear safety files will set the pace of adoption.
• Ownership change is reshaping US supply, and the mycoprotein market in the USA will expand at a 9.9% CAGR till 2036. Meati Holdings acquired the Meati assets at the end of October 2025 and is preparing a brand relaunch for 2026 [7]. Branded presence remains thin, as the USA accounted for 5.5% of Quorn sales in 2025 against 79.1% for the UK [11]. B2B supply to meat processors will carry more of the new volume than branded retail.
• UK buyers already know the category, so growth at a 9.3% CAGR till 2036 will come from new channels more than new shoppers. Marlow Foods lifted UK market share by 0.9 percentage points to 31.0% in 2025 [2]. Foodservice will be the next outlet, as Quorn Pro and William White Meats launched UltiMeat burgers, mince and meatballs through wholesaler Brakes in July 2026, with 15g to 17.5g of protein per 100g [8].
• Germany pairs a large flexitarian population with a stalled meat-alternative aisle, and mycoprotein sales in the country will rise at an 8.8% CAGR through 2036. Around 50.0% of Germans identify as flexitarian, and 52.0% would prefer blended meat in a sausage format [3]. Blended sausages and mince will give mycoprotein the clearest entry to that buyer base.
• Policy in South Korea is moving faster than local supply, and an 8.1% CAGR till 2036 marks the slowest pace in the profiled group. In July 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the first statutory master plan under the Food Tech Industry Promotion Act, covering biotechnology and alternative food [10]. Suppliers pairing local application partners with early regulatory work will turn that policy support into orders.

Who are the Notable Companies in the Mycoprotein Market?

Key companies in the market include Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn), Meati Holdings, Nature's Fynd, The Better Meat Co., Enough (Abunda), MycoTechnology, Inc., and Smaqo.

Mycoprotein supply is concentrated around one incumbent, as Quorn runs the largest installed fermentation base and holds 31.0% UK market share [2]. That lead is under pressure, with Monde Nissin, owner of Quorn, reporting a 1.2% fall in Meat Alternative revenue for the first nine months of 2025 [12]. Quorn revenue for the first half of 2026 then rose 2.2% on a constant-currency basis [11]. Smaller players compete on business model more than on brand, with B2B biomass suppliers such as The Better Meat Co. and Enough selling ingredient volume to meat processors. Blended-product makers form a third route, and Smaqo placed equal-parts beef and mycoprotein meatballs in ICA supermarkets in Sweden in March 2026 [13].

As per FMI's analysis, the basis of competition will shift through 2036 toward fermentation cost per kilo, texture and access to meat processors. Scale-up capital is the main entry barrier, and capital-heavy start-ups are facing consolidation, as shown when Meati Holdings took over the Meati assets at the end of October 2025 [7]. The meat substitutes market study tracks the wider competitive base.

• Vertically Integrated Consumer Platforms: Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn), Meati Holdings  and Nature's Fynd grow fungal biomass in-house and sell branded foods. Quorn removed artificial ingredients from core frozen mince and pieces in August 2025, citing 53.0% of UK consumers who said healthy nutrition had become more important to them over five years [14].
• B2B Fungal Biomass Suppliers: The Better Meat Co. and Enough (Abunda) sell mycoprotein to food manufacturers that formulate own-brand products, so cost per kilo and consistent specifications decide repeat orders.
• Fermentation-Enabled and Blended Protein Innovators: MycoTechnology, Inc. ferments pea and rice protein with shiitake mycelia, and Smaqo blends mycoprotein with beef for retail meatballs.

Competitive Benchmarking

Company	Direct Fungal Biomass Platform	Format & Application Flexibility	Scale / Route-to-Market Readiness	Geographic Reach
Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn)	High	High	High	UK, USA, Europe and other markets
Meati Holdings	High	Medium	Medium	USA
Nature's Fynd	High	High	Medium	USA
The Better Meat Co.	High	High	Medium	USA, B2B supply
Enough (Abunda)	High	High	High	Europe, with Cargill partnership
MycoTechnology, Inc.	Low	Medium	Medium	USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand
Smaqo	Low	Medium	Medium	Sweden

Scoring basis: Direct Fungal Biomass Platform scores documented food-grade fungal biomass production. Format & Application Flexibility scores evidence across forms and food uses. Scale / Route-to-Market Readiness scores capacity, approvals and channel partners. A High score marks broad and clearly documented capability, Medium marks credible but narrower documented capability, and Low marks limited public documentation for the criterion. Scores reflect a review of public company documentation in September 2026.

Key Developments

• In November 2025, Meati Holdings announced a strategic revival after acquiring all Meati assets at the end of October, with a review of the Thornton facility and a brand relaunch planned for 2026 [7].
• In May 2026, Quorn returned Quorn Chilled Mince to Tesco and Sainsbury's as the first chilled product in the No Artificial Ingredients range [4].
• In July 2026, Quorn Pro and William White Meats launched UltiMeat blended burgers, mince and meatballs, with first listings at wholesaler Brakes [8].

Key Players

Vertically Integrated Consumer Platforms

• Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn)
• Meati Holdings
• Nature's Fynd

B2B Fungal Biomass Suppliers

• The Better Meat Co.
• Enough (Abunda)

Fermentation-Enabled and Blended Protein Innovators

• MycoTechnology, Inc.
• Smaqo

Report Scope and Methodology

Coverage field	Report scope
Market breakdown	3 categories: Form Type (Minced, Sliced, Powdered, Other forms), Production Method (Submerged Liquid Fermentation (SLF), Solid-state Fermentation (SSF)), and Region
Quantitative units	USD Million
Market definition	Revenue attributable to food-grade fungal biomass or mycoprotein sold within the stated Form Type and Production Method segmentation. The definition excludes downstream finished-product value, adjacent proteins and substitutes, and plant proteins only processed with fungal fermentation unless the sold revenue comes directly from fungal biomass.
Regions covered	North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia and Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Countries covered	More than 25 countries and country groups, including Japan, the USA, the UK, Germany, and South Korea
Key companies profiled	Marlow Foods Ltd. (Quorn), Meati Holdings, Nature's Fynd, The Better Meat Co., Enough (Abunda), MycoTechnology, Inc., and Smaqo, among many more players covered in the study
Forecast period	2026 to 2036
Approach	A hybrid bottom-up and top-down sizing framework applied by FMI reconciles fungal biomass volumes, pricing by form and supplier revenue signals with meat-reduction and alternative-protein indicators in each country.

Research Methodology

Method	Approach
Primary research	The primary-research framework engages mycoprotein producers, fermentation technology suppliers, meat and prepared-food processors, foodservice buyers, retail category buyers and nutrition specialists to test purchase drivers, texture and cost requirements, approval needs and repeat-purchase conditions.
Desk research	The analysis reviews government food-policy publications, regulatory notices, consumer surveys, company accounts, announcements and product information. Only sources that define demand, product format, country conditions or company activity inside the market boundary are retained.
Market sizing and forecasting	The sizing framework combines the baseline value with segment structure, price and volume indicators by form, company participation and country-level meat-reduction trends. Forecasts consider fermentation capacity, product launches, regulation and channel shifts.
Data validation	Estimates are checked against public data, company activity and interview findings. Plant proteins processed with fungi, finished-food value, overlapping revenues and unsupported claims are excluded before final reconciliation.

Mycoprotein Market by Segments

Mycoprotein Market Segmented by Form Type

• Minced
• Sliced
• Powdered
• Other forms

Mycoprotein Market Segmented by Production Method

• Submerged Liquid Fermentation (SLF)
• Solid-state Fermentation (SSF)

Mycoprotein Market Segmented by Region

• North America
• Latin America
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• East Asia
• South Asia and Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1] Green Queen (2026, January 30). Trend Report: Protein Continues to Reign Supreme - Can Blended Meat Take the Climate Edge Off?
• [2] Quorn Foods (2026, April 28). Marlow Foods Limited 2025 Accounts.
• [3] Green Queen (2026, June 18). 60% of Brits & Germans Would Buy Blended Meat If Taste & Price Expectations Are Met.
• [4] Quorn Foods (2026, May 1). Quorn Chilled Mince Returns with No Artificial Ingredients.
• [5] FoodNavigator-USA (2025, August 26). The Better Meat Co. raises $31 million in series A, plans to beat beef on price by 2026.
• [6] Green Queen (2026, June 9). European Plant-Based Sales Grow By 3% As Price Gap with Meat & Dairy Narrows.
• [7] Meati Holdings (2025, November 11). Meati Holdings Announces Strategic Revival and Market Expansion.
• [8] Green Queen (2026, July 7). Quorn's Mycoprotein Powers New Blended Meat Range for British Restaurants.
• [9] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (2026, September). Council for Public-Private Partnership in Food Technology - About the Council.
• [10] Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea (2026, July 20). S. Korea Unveils Master Plan to Integrate Advanced Technologies into the Food Sector.
• [11] AgFunderNews (2026, August 17). Quorn Foods' UK retail recovery gathers pace, but foodservice 'likely to get worse before it gets better'.
• [12] Just Food (2025, November 13). Quorn CEO expects volumes to stabilise in 2026.
• [13] Green Queen (2026, March 16). Smaqo Debuts Blended Meatballs in Sweden's Largest Supermarket.
• [14] Quorn Foods (2025, August 26). Quorn Makes Change for Ingredient-Conscious Fans.

This bibliography is provided for reader reference and is not exhaustive. The full report contains the complete reference list and detailed citations.

This Report Answers

• What will the Mycoprotein Market size be in 2026, and what value will the market reach by 2036?
• Which consumer habits around meat reduction will continue to support demand for mycoprotein?
• Why will minced mycoprotein hold the leading position within the Form Type category in 2026?
• Why will submerged liquid fermentation (SLF) lead the Production Method category?
• How will growth rates differ across Japan, the USA, the UK, Germany, and South Korea till 2036?
• How will blended meat products and B2B biomass supply raise the volume of mycoprotein sales?
• How should buyers assess the roles and capabilities of the profiled companies?
• How will price gaps with meat and fermentation cost slow conversion to mycoprotein?
• What will food manufacturers and foodservice buyers need to check before selecting a mycoprotein supplier?