Prices are 'whey' up due to shifts in protein demand

Demand for protein is placing significant pressure on global ingredient markets, driving up whey protein costs, tightening supply and increasing the need for more resilient formulation strategies — according to specialist ingredient distributor ACI Group.

Demand is being fuelled by GLP-1 weight-loss medications, healthy aging demographics, sports nutrition growth and rising interest in protein-fortified foods and beverages. ACI Group believes current market conditions represent a broader structural shift rather than a temporary period of volatility. Recent market data shows European food-grade whey powder prices have risen more than 50% since January 2026, while 80% whey protein concentrate has reached record highs, exceeding €26,000 per tonne in some European markets.

“For years, whey has been one of the industry’s most trusted and widely used protein ingredients,” said Jack Helm, Account Manager – Beverage, Bakery & Functional Foods, at ACI Group. “What we are seeing now is a convergence of long-term trends that are fundamentally changing protein demand. Manufacturers can no longer assume whey will remain as abundant, predictable or cost-effective as it’s been historically.”

Manufacturers are increasingly being challenged to balance nutritional performance, product quality, supply security and commercial viability.

“This is not simply a pricing challenge,” Helm said. “It is a supply resilience challenge. The companies best positioned for the future will be those building more flexible protein strategies that balance nutritional quality, functionality, sustainability and supply security.”

As whey costs rise, manufacturers are increasingly evaluating alternative proteins that can reduce dependency while maintaining nutritional quality and functionality. Soy proteins are attracting renewed interest due to their amino acid profile, functionality and established supply chains.

However, Helm cautions that successful reformulation requires a broader understanding of protein performance than nutritional values alone.

“Manufacturers are not simply buying protein percentages, but functionality,” he said. “Any alternative protein must deliver the processing performance, texture, stability and sensory characteristics required by the finished product.

“As the protein landscape continues to evolve, manufacturers that take a proactive approach today will be in the strongest position to manage future supply challenges while continuing to deliver the products consumers expect.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Olga Yastremska