CHICAGO, May 27, 2026 — If you think the food-away-from home sector is oversaturated with protein products, think again.
Consumers still want more protein from their meals and snacks away from home.
That’s just one of the findings of the exclusive new Consumer & Operator Research Group (CORG) report released this month by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association.
In a survey of more than 1,500 consumers and 400 operators last month, 83% of consumers said they “actively think” about their daily protein intake and 38% (44% of Gen Xers) said they are careful to include protein in every meal.
Walking the aisles of the massive National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago earlier this month was a good way to see this protein push in action – but the protein sources on display looked a bit different than in previous years.
Plant-based meat alternatives, which have historically taken over an outsized footprint at the Show, were overshadowed by dairy- and meat-based protein options. Sales of plant-based meat alternatives have fallen steadily in recent years.
Cherie Hill, a customer service manager for egg processor Prime Foods, said sales of the company’s Pro-Go protein packs have more than doubled over the last six months. Prime Foods partnered with redistributor Dot Foods about a year ago and now has the grab-and go products in 160 retail locations via the distributor.
A protein pack featuring string cheese, uncured pepperoni and a peeled, hard-boiled egg is Prime Foods’ top seller of the Pro-Go line, Hill said. The package has 18 grams of protein, which is called out in bold font on the front. The packs are sold at grocery stores, c-stores and airports, Hill said.
Egglife Foods, which sells low-carb wraps made from egg whites instead of flour, said it has seen 93% compound annual growth rate over the past five years from the sale of its products, which have recently expanded to include grab-and-go Power Wraps in ready-to-eat and heat-and-eat varieties. At the Show, the company showed off the new grab-and-go wraps in Everything Bagel (roasted turkey and cream cheese), with 16 grams of protein, and Roasted Garlic & Herb (uncured pepperoni and cream cheese), with 13 grams of protein.
The items are billed as “perfect for powering up when you don’t have time to slow down.”
For foodservice operators and suppliers, there appears to be an opportunity for innovation in alternative protein options, such as powders and high-protein grains, the CORG report found.
Seventeen percent of consumers said they would be interested in more foods with protein powders, while just 9% of operators currently offer them, according to the survey.
More than half (51%) of consumers said they’d like to see more high-protein offerings at breakfast, while 35% would like more protein-heavy grab-and-go snacks and 32% want protein-forward side dishes.
When it comes to protein labeling, there’s a significant gap between consumers and operators. Eighty percent of consumers would like to see protein information on the menu but just 48% of operators provide such information, according to the report.
Heather Lalley is the director of communications for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. A lifelong journalist, Lalley has previously worked with industry publications including Restaurant Business, CSP Daily News, Supermarket News and Foodservice Director.