Agility and ‘scaling the plant-based revolution’: Experts predict 2026 shift in food and beverage manufacturing strategies

manufacturing, trends, 16 December 25/ in Featured Articles

Food and beverage engineering experts have predicted that manufacturing agility and increasingly scalable plant-based protein manufacturing will be key trends shaping the sector in 2026.

Global engineering consultancy NIRAS has called for manufacturers to turn towards more adaptable and efficient factories that can respond quickly to market forces.

Jonas B. Borrit, Vice President for Process Industries at NIRAS is looking back to look ahead: “Manufacturers across Europe have faced hugely challenging market forces over recent years. In 2025 alone, we’ve seen ever-changing tariffs, stagnant economic growth and rising labour costs, on top of the constant challenge of constantly shifting consumer demands.”

Borrit added that these obstacles show no signs of disappearing and manufacturers will need to be adaptive and innovative in their approaches.

“For example, at NIRAS we’ve been discussing the rising demand for capital avoidance – a focus on optimising existing operations fully before looking at capital expenditure – and the scrutiny on costs and budgets means this approach will be just as important next year.”

Borrit, alongside NIRAS colleagues Nick Hickman, vice president for business development, and Jolmer Nieuwkerk, engineering expertise manager, shared wider predictions for the year ahead.

1. Plant-based proteins will achieve scale

Nieuwkerk is experienced in the dairy sector, but is increasingly involved in alternative protein production. He foresees the following next year: “2026 could be the year that the plant-based protein revolution grows at scale. Consumer demand for alternative protein sources has never been higher, driven both by huge improvements to the taste and texture of products and a rising awareness about the impact of animal proteins on the environment.”

Alongside consumer demand, start-ups and pioneers are expected to take the lead, according to Nieuwkerk: “There are so many innovative plant-based startups moving products towards pilot and factory scale. The key challenge facing them all is accessing the funding and technical insights to enable them to turn their ideas into safe, scalable and profitable operations and compete with more established players.

Nieuwkerk also emphasised the rise of hybrid protein-products. He said: “There is more focus on hybrid approaches within the protein transition. Plant-based is truly different from animal-based; both the process and the product are distinct since pure plant proteins behave differently. Yet, you can still reduce hybrid content while maintaining the desired product characteristics and ensuring the process remains suitable.

“Manufacturers have the opportunity to reshape perceptions around plant-based products but will need to overcome a range of practical considerations, including hygienic and scalable plant design.”

2. The energy transition will continue to evolve

“The fundamentals of sustainable manufacturing are arguably even more important given the pressure on costs. Lower emissions, increased energy efficiency and cost reductions are vital considerations for businesses to drive growth, without considering the huge impact manufacturers have on planet health, “ explained Jonas, having observed this trend across the entire sector.

He continued: “The good news is that emerging technologies and the rising capability of heat pumps, green fuels and power-to-X solutions are increasing the range of possibilities for manufacturers. Heat pumps in particular are increasingly capable of higher temperatures which can have a significant contribution towards more sustainable energy generation.”

3. A greater emphasis on project justification and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

“This year we’ve seen many CapEx projects face tighter scrutiny due to global macroeconomic instability delaying approvals and increasing pressure on costs before work can begin,“ said Hickman, reflecting on the past couple of months.

Looking ahead to 2026, he noted: “This rising scrutiny means that an increased focus on analysis of the total cost of ownership (TCO) will be vital for businesses. More emphasis on TCO in 2026 will help to assess the viability of projects and support businesses to continue to invest in their facilities for much-needed capacity and efficiency improvements.”

4. A shifted focus towards manufacturing agility and footprint flexibility

“Speed-to-market remains key, and ongoing cost pressures mean manufacturers need adaptable, efficient facilities that can respond quickly to market changes,“ added Hickman.

“This year we have been speaking about the idea of capital avoidance – the strategic management of assets and operations to prevent unnecessary capital expenditure – and we expect to see this focus on optimising the agility and capacity of existing facilities into 2026.

“A factory designed for multiple products has always been inherently flexible and this flexibility should be part of the design process. Many factories are still based on large volumes and huge inventories, so this requires a shift in thinking.”

5. More facility development in urban areas

“As well as demand for more agile facilities, new production sites will be increasingly located closer to urban areas. This shift makes it easier to attract and retain staff, but brings additional supply chain challenges,” predicted Borrit.

“Many European sites are also facing growing pressure to refurbish, with payback time and productivity gains now central to investment decisions.”

• For more information about NIRAS, visit: niras.com