Japan Whey Protein Industry

Japan Whey Protein Market Analysis

The Japan Whey Protein Market is expected to register a CAGR of 1.49% during the forecast period.

• The growing consumer attention toward whey protein is due to its functional benefits. It has become the choice of fitness-oriented Japanese consumers, creating a demand for whey products. Whey proteins are widely used as food ingredients due to their highly nutritious and beneficial functional properties. Thus, they are considered important elements required for optimum human and infant health, which drives the market in Japan. Prominent companies like Arla Foods Ingredients, Fonterra Japan, Friesland Campina, and others offer various whey protein-infused products to cater to the increasing demand in the country.
• With an increasing inclination towards convenience, foods that are ready to eat and cooked in nature are gaining importance in the market. As consumers in the market are becoming health conscious and watch out for the food they intake, manufacturers in the market are focusing on incorporating whey protein in various ready-to-eat foods such as protein bars and yogurts to attract consumers in the market. Whey protein ingredients such as whey protein isolates and other whey protein derivatives are infused into protein bars that can be consumed on the go. For instance, Asahi company operating in Japan offers whey protein-infused protein bars to cater to the demand in the market.

Japan Whey Protein Market Trends

Sports and Performance Nutrition Dominates the Market

• In Japan, consumers are willing to live a healthy and active lifestyle, and those who are recreationally active are increasingly opting for some sports nutrition products to complement their workout sessions and obtain more purified nutrients.
• According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan), in 2021, the share of people over ten years old participating in sports in Japan amounted to 66.5 percent. The protein-rich supplements containing whey proteins effectively produce the desired physique, as they are considered a complete protein that is easy to digest. They also improve the overall protein intake of the body.
• With more consumers in the market participating in various sports such as soccer, baseball, volleyball, tennis, and other sports that require a certain amount of physical fitness, they tend to consume whey protein products such as powdered supplements and shakes to meet the physical fitness requirement of the sport. Thus, the consumer demand for whey protein in various forms, such as powders and supplements, is increasing in Japan.

Inclination Toward Protein-Rich Food among infants and adults

• The absolute number of high-protein food and drink introductions has experienced strong growth over the past years, making it high in protein and one of the most substantial growing claims in the food and drink market. Additionally, consumers and athletes seek natural, less processed nutritional solutions with proven benefits. Many dairy ingredient manufacturing companies are launching new nutritional solutions to support sports nutrition manufacturers.
• For instance, in December 2021, Lactalis Ingredients launched high-protein concepts with two native protein sources, including Ponativ's Native Micellar Casein and Pronativ's Native Whey Protein, targeting sports nutrition and healthy aging.
• On the other hand, the usage of infant formulas in Japan has increased significantly. For instance, in a study on breastfeeding prevalence in Japan, according to the World Health Organization - Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO-IYCF) indicator published in PubMed Central 2021, about half of the infants received infant formula for the first time within the first three days of life.
• According to the Japan Dairy Association, in 2021, the export volume of infant formula preparations made from milk products from Japan amounted to around 8.7 million kg. Baby milk exports steadily increased within the last decade, with major domestic manufacturers like Meiji Holdings and Morinaga Milk Industry exporting preparations and ingredients overseas. The rising consumption of infant formulas is further promoting the sale of milk protein ingredients in the market.

Japan Whey Protein Industry Overview

The Japanese whey protein market is fragmented, with the presence of several small and international players involved in the manufacturing and distribution of whey protein ingredients in the country. Manufacturers focus on product innovation and advertising their products through fitness enthusiasts nationwide. Some dominant Japanese whey protein market players include Glanbia Plc, Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, Arla Foods amba, Groupe Lactalis, and Sodiaal Co-operative Group.

Japan Whey Protein Market Leaders

Japan Whey Protein Market News

• April 2023: Arla Foods Ingredients, headquartered in Denmark, introduced Nutrilac and ProteinBoost, two cutting-edge whey protein products leveraging patented microparticulate technology. This innovative launch addresses the surging global demand for high-quality protein, particularly in the Japanese market. These versatile products find application in a wide range of dairy and sports nutrition products, including yogurt, desserts, and dairy beverages.
• September 2022: Glanbia, a prominent company, rebranded its whey protein product line as "Tirlan" for the Japanese market. Tirlan offers a diverse selection of whey protein isolates and concentrates tailored to meet the needs of sports nutrition, infant formula, and various other food industry applications.
• July 2021: MILEI GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morinaga, established through a Japan-Germany joint venture in 1972, marked a significant milestone with the completion and inauguration of a new facility dedicated to the commercial production of its entire product portfolio.