Expansion of plant-based meat alternatives
The expansion of plant-based meat alternatives presents a significant opportunity for the global meat market. The expansion of plant-based meat alternatives offers a compelling opportunity for the global meat market, as shifting consumer preferences, environmental concerns, and technological improvements are pushing these products into the mainstream. There are multiple recent examples, numbers, and scientific findings that illustrate how this opportunity is evolving.
Firstly, product innovation and diversification are accelerating. Global brands are launching new plant-based lines: for example, Kraft Heinz’s Not Company launched NotHotDogs and NotSausages in about 2,000 U.S. stores in Q2 2024, featuring ingredients like bamboo fiber, mushroom, and pea protein. Similarly, Tyson Foods introduced its own plant-based chicken nuggets under its Raised & Rooted brand in U.S. retailers like Target.
A comparative study by the Food Foundation (UK) looked at 68 plant-based products vs. 36 meat products and found that the plant-based alternatives generally produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, use less water, have fewer calories and less saturated fat, while offering more fiber. With plant-based brands, and as emerging markets spearhead the movement for sustainable, next-generation proteins cater to evolving consumer needs worldwide.
Ethnic Meat Varieties
As worldwide migration and multiculturalism accelerate, demand for ethnic and specialty meats ranging from Middle Eastern kebabs and Mexican carnitas to Korean bulgogi and goat-based African stews has grown steadily, with supermarkets and foodservice operators expanding their offerings to serve diverse palates.
In the United States, for example, Hispanic populations now account for nearly 20% of the population, spurring higher demand for beef, pork, and chicken cuts favored in Latin cuisines. Tyson Foods’ 2023 Meat Consumer Segmentation Study revealed that 58% of US consumers enjoy meat as part of ethnic meals, a marked increase from 55% in 2019.
Also, Outside North America, the Asia-Pacific region’s leading role in consumption and variety spans pork, goat, and seafood-based dishes, tailored to different cultural and religious preferences. Specialty meats like yak in Mongolia or camel in the Middle East are also drawing attention in culinary tourism and fusion cuisine. Global restaurant chains and retailers respond to this demand by offering regionally themed limited-time menu items, such as Korean BBQ beef bowsers or Argentinian steaks, capitalizing on food discovery and cultural experience trends.
This opportunity is magnified by digital media, which exposes consumers to new cuisines, and e-commerce, making ethnic meats and spices more accessible.
Strategic Acquisitions and Market Expansion
Strategic acquisitions and proactive market expansion have emerged as key opportunities for the global meat market, In 2025, leading meat producers are pursuing high-profile acquisitions to secure new technologies, expand geographic reach, and capture growth niches such as plant-based meats, premium proteins, and cultivated meat innovations.
A recent example is Meatable’s acquisition of Uncommon Bio’s cultivated meat platform, giving Meatable access to proprietary technology for producing high-quality, non-GMO pork, beef, chicken, and lamb. This move consolidates Meatable’s leadership in cellular agriculture and allows rapid product development and regulatory approval across multiple regions. Similarly, Cargill Meat Solutions acquired a poultry processing facility to strengthen its market position in response to rising global demand for poultry, resulting in improved production capacity and operational efficiency.
Premiumization and vertical integration have become central to strategic expansions, as illustrated by Baldor Specialty Foods’ acquisition of Golden Packing, which enables Baldor to vertically integrate meat processing and offer premium center-of-plate proteins to a broad foodservice customer base. This not only diversifies product offerings but also enhances brand value and enables greater control over sourcing, quality, and logistics. In addition, companies like Hormel Foods have acquired specialty meat firms to penetrate the expanding premium and ethnic meat segments and to diversify their product portfolios.
One major move is the merger between Marfrig Global Foods and BRF in Brazil, Two Brazilian animal protein giants are merging. Marfrig Global Foods and BRF finalized the details of their merger on May 15, 2025, forming MBRF. The deal combines Marfrig’s beef-heavy business with the chicken and pork businesses of BRF.
Strategic acquisitions also fuel innovation in sustainability and health, as meat companies acquire startups focused on alternative proteins, precision fermentation, and smart processing technologies. Industry-wide, mergers and acquisitions have accelerated in 2025, driven by a more favorable macroeconomic environment and increased investor interest in health-focused and protein-rich products like meat snacks, further reshaping competitive dynamics.
The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted the global food and beverages sector, exposing vulnerabilities in extensive supply chains, labor availability, and food security systems. Widespread lockdowns, border closures, and social distancing mandates forced restaurants, hotels, and catering industries to shut or sharply limit activities, causing a dramatic shift in consumption from foodservice to retail. This transition led to temporary spikes in retail demand and panic buying, with some product shortages and food waste due to supply demand mismatches. For commodity producers, the pandemic resulted in initial demand drops from the hospitality sector, while retail struggled to keep up with changing consumption patterns.
Impact on Global Meat Market
Significant outbreaks among workers in the U.S., Germany, Brazil, France, and other countries forced the closure or slowdown of many processing plants, resulting in a drastic reduction in capacity beef, pork, and poultry production decreased by up to 25%, 43%, and 15%, respectively in some regions. The illness and fear of contagion led to labor shortages, while physical distancing and safety protocols meant plants operated at reduced speeds. Global meat trade also slowed, with export delays and logistical bottlenecks in major ports, particularly China. Large numbers of animals were euthanized due to processing backlogs, representing economic losses for producers.
Impact On Supply Chain Of Meat market
The pandemic exposed critical weak points in the meat supply chain. Mass outbreaks of COVID-19 at meat-processing plants led to partial or full closures in the United States, Europe, and Brazil, sharply reducing production and causing severe logistical dislocations, such as backlogs at ports and cold storage facilities. About 54,036 meat packaging workers in the U.S. alone were reported COVID-19 positive, with over 180 deaths. Plant slowdowns resulted in producers holding excess livestock, culled animals, and supply gluts upstream, while downstream markets faced shortages and stockouts.
Impact On Market Demand Of Meat market
Foodservice closures and restricted operations shifted consumption patterns toward retail grocery and home cooking, while food-away-from-home (FAFH) activity fell by more than 20% relative to pre-pandemic levels in the U.S. In contrast, food-at-home demand grew about 10% above normal, creating occasional stockouts and increased pressure on retail supply chains. As meat production decreased and anxiety about animal-borne diseases increased, some consumers pivoted toward plant-based or alternative proteins.
Impact On Pricing of Meat market
Meat prices were highly volatile during the pandemic.
