The global enzymes market is on track to grow from $16.15 billion in 2026 to $23.74 billion by 2031, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets, with food and beverage manufacturing holding the largest single application share throughout the forecast period. For restaurant groups, food manufacturers, and foodservice supply chain operators, the data signals continued investment by ingredient suppliers in higher-performance enzyme solutions — and potential pricing and sourcing implications upstream.
Enzymes touch nearly every corner of food production. In bakery, they improve dough extensibility and shelf life. In dairy, lactase enzymes underpin the fast-growing lactose-free segment. Brewing operations rely on amylases and proteases for consistency and yield. Starch processing — a backbone of sweetener and texture ingredient supply — is another major consumption category. As processed food demand rises globally and operators push for greater consistency and cost efficiency, enzyme adoption is deepening across the supply chain.
M&A Reshaping Supply
Consolidation among enzyme producers is already underway, and the deals being struck have direct implications for foodservice ingredient sourcing. In February 2025, Novonesis Group agreed to acquire dsm-firmenich's share of the Feed Enzyme Alliance for EUR 1.5 billion (USD 1.69 billion), strengthening Novonesis's integrated position across animal biosolutions — a category that feeds directly into meat and dairy supply chains. In December 2023, Kerry Group acquired the global lactase enzymes business from Novonesis Group for EUR 150 million (USD 162.3 million), adding the NOLA lactase portfolio and deepening its capability in enzyme solutions for lactose-free and sugar-reduced dairy products. That business carried approximately EUR 40 million in attributable revenue in 2022 and had sales across more than 50 countries.
The top five players in the market — BASF SE, International Flavors & Fragrances, dsm-firmenich, Novonesis Group, and Kerry Group — together account for an estimated 46% of total market share. The market remains moderately fragmented, but M&A is concentrating capabilities among a smaller set of well-resourced suppliers.
What It Means for Operators
For food and beverage operators monitoring ingredient costs and supply reliability, the enzyme sector's rapid growth cuts both ways. Rising investment in enzyme engineering and fermentation technology is likely to improve performance and broaden the range of application-specific products available — supporting better yields, cleaner labels, and reduced chemical inputs in processing. At the same time, consolidation narrows the supplier field, which can affect pricing leverage for buyers at scale.
Proteases are projected to be the fastest-growing enzyme type during the forecast period, while carbohydrases are expected to maintain the largest overall market share — a dynamic relevant to operators sourcing starches, sweeteners, and baked goods ingredients. South America is forecast to register the highest regional CAGR at 9.1%, reflecting expanding food processing capacity across markets that supply key commodities to global foodservice chains.
Operators tracking ingredient supply chain trends and beverage industry analysis should note that enzyme availability and pricing are increasingly tied to the strategic moves of a handful of global life-science companies. As sustainable manufacturing pressures mount and demand for lactose-free, sugar-reduced, and clean-label products continues to climb, enzyme solutions will remain a critical — and increasingly competitive — input category across food and beverage production.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
