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Meal replacement drinks market projected to grow as brands push convenience and reformulation

New industry forecasts show continued growth for meal replacement drinks and shakes, driven by demand for convenience, tighter nutrition-claim scrutiny and product reformulation.

Meal replacement drinks market projected to grow as brands push convenience and reformulation
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Meal replacement drinks market projected to grow as brands push convenience and reformulation

Meal replacement drinks market projected to grow as brands push convenience and reformulation

The global market for meal replacement shakes and drinks is expected to expand steadily over the next decade, with multiple new industry forecasts citing convenience-driven demand, product reformulation and closer scrutiny of nutrient claims as major forces shaping the category.

A new Research and Markets forecast projects the broader meal replacement market to reach $30.66 billion by 2030, growing at a 9.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), attributing gains in part to rising interest in personalized nutrition solutions and shifting consumer preferences toward packaged, portioned products. Separately, Mordor Intelligence estimates the meal replacement shakes segment at $6.52 billion in 2026, rising to $9.65 billion by 2031 (about 8.38% CAGR), pointing to “greater medical endorsement,” stricter nutrient-claim rules and rapid formulation upgrades as tailwinds.

Convenience formats and “ready-to-drink” expansion cited across forecasts

Several reports published this week describe ready-to-drink products as a fast-growing portion of the category, supported by distribution in mainstream retail and an emphasis on low-effort consumption.

A Mordor Intelligence analysis of meal replacement products highlights growth in ready-to-drink options, noting that shelf-stable shakes and prepared items appeal to consumers seeking minimal preparation and cleanup. Market researchers have repeatedly framed the category as part of a wider “convenience nutrition” trend, with Fact.MR projecting the meal replacement shake market to grow from $8.6 billion in 2025 to $13.1 billion by 2035 (a 4.3% CAGR), driven by demand for ready-to-drink, powder and protein-blend formats.

Reformulation and higher-protein positioning remain central

Across the forecasts, manufacturers are described as competing on nutrient profiles, texture and satiety-oriented positioning—language that reflects a market where products are often marketed as structured, calorie-controlled substitutes for meals.

Fortune Business Insights reports that leading companies are “premiumizing” portfolios and upgrading scientific formulations, with high-protein innovation a recurring theme—often through reformulations that deliver roughly 20–30 grams of protein per serving. A separate Persistence Market Research summary similarly describes product launches emphasizing “balanced nutrition” and improved texture and satiety benefits.

Danone’s Alpro expansion underscores plant-based competition in Europe

One of the most concrete near-term business signals cited in this week’s market summaries is Danone’s push to expand its plant-based meal replacement offerings in Europe.

According to Precedence Research and Persistence Market Research, Danone introduced Alpro Meal To Go—a plant-based meal replacement drink line—beginning with rollouts in Belgium and Germany, with additional European markets anticipated. The reports frame the move as targeting demand for on-the-go nutrition and suggest the category is drawing increased attention from large food companies seeking growth in functional and convenience-led beverages.

Category overlaps with clinical dietary support and nutrition-drink definitions

Some market coverage notes that meal replacements sit alongside broader nutrition-drink categories that include products positioned for specific dietary needs.

Mintel’s U.S. nutrition drinks report describes nutritional drinks and mixes as products intended to fill a specific nutritional need, including meal replacement beverages that provide added vitamins and minerals to supplement regular diets or support special diets. Meanwhile, a PR Newswire release citing Market Research Intellect describes meal replacements as increasingly adopted across sports nutrition, weight management and clinical dietary support use cases—though the release reflects market framing rather than clinical trial outcomes.

Wide variation in market-size estimates highlights definitional differences

While most forecasts agree on growth, estimates of total market size vary sharply—often reflecting different definitions of “meal replacement,” whether bars and powders are included, and whether adjacent functional foods are counted.

For example, Coherent Market Insights estimates the meal replacement market at $15.71 billion in 2026, reaching $23.62 billion by 2033 (about 6.0% CAGR). By contrast, a PR Newswire release referencing Market Research Intellect claims a far larger figure—$800 billion by 2033 for meal replacement food and drinks—an estimate that appears to hinge on broader category boundaries than other reports.

Even with disparate totals, multiple analyses identify North America as a leading region by current revenue and point to faster growth in Asia-Pacific tied to urbanization and demand for convenient meal solutions, according to Market Research Future.

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