The Global Gelatin Substitutes Market was valued at USD 1.48 Billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 2.75 Billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.1% during the forecast period (2024–2034). This robust growth is being driven by the global surge in vegan and vegetarian populations, stringent dietary laws requiring halal/kosher ingredients, and the expanding application of plant-based gelling agents in pharmaceuticals and functional foods.

As the food and healthcare industries pivot toward sustainable and ethical sourcing, the demand for alternatives to animal-based gelatin has never been higher. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Gelatin Substitutes Industry—a dynamic mix of global ingredient giants, specialized hydrocolloid producers, and innovative specialists shaping the future of food texture and formulation.

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🔟 1. Cargill, Incorporated

Headquarters: Wayzata, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Pectin, Cornstarch, specialty plant-based texturizers

Cargill is a global powerhouse in food ingredients, leveraging its extensive agricultural supply chains to provide high-quality gelatin substitutes. The company’s portfolio includes a range of plant-derived solutions that serve the confectionery, dairy, and pharmaceutical industries, with a strong focus on pectin derived from citrus and apple peels.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Significant investments in expanding pectin production capacity to meet rising demand

• Commitment to sustainable sourcing of raw materials and reducing environmental footprint

• Development of clean-label texturizing solutions for the global market

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9️⃣ 2. GELITA AG

Headquarters: Eberbach, Germany
Key Offering: Specialty proteins, collagen peptides, and emerging plant-based alternatives

GELITA AG, a world leader in collagen-based gelatin, has strategically expanded into the gelatin substitutes space to cater to the growing vegan demographic. The company utilizes its deep expertise in protein chemistry to develop next-generation plant-based gelling agents that meet high performance standards.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• R&D focused on creating high-performance plant-based solutions that mimic gelatin’s functionality

• Partnerships with food manufacturers to co-develop innovative vegan product applications

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8️⃣ 3. AGARMEX, S.A.

Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
Key Offering: Agar-Agar

AGARMEX is a leading global supplier of Agar-Agar, a superior gelling agent extracted from red algae. The company is a key player in the seaweed-based substitutes segment, supplying high-purity agar to food and pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide, prized for its strong gel strength and thermo-reversibility.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Sustainable harvesting and processing of seaweed

• Investment in R&D to improve agar extraction efficiency and quality

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7️⃣ 4. CP Kelco

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Key Offering: Pectin, Gellan Gum, Xanthan Gum

CP Kelco, a Huber Company, is a premier producer of nature-based texturizing solutions. Its diverse portfolio of hydrocolloids serves as effective gelatin substitutes, with pectin being a flagship product for jam, jelly, and yogurt applications, and gellan gum used for creating clear, firm gels.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Development of innovative, customized texturizing systems for specific customer needs

• Focus on sustainable production practices and reducing water usage in manufacturing

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6️⃣ 5. DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Specialty hydrocolloids, including plant-based stabilizers and gelling agents

DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences division offers a wide array of ingredients that function as gelatin substitutes. Their expertise lies in creating synergistic blends of hydrocolloids to achieve specific textures in plant-based foods, dairy alternatives, and pharmaceutical formulations.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Extensive R&D focused on biotechnology and fermentation-derived ingredients

• Commitment to providing solutions that support a sustainable food system

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5️⃣ 6. Ingredion Incorporated

Headquarters: Westchester, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Native and modified starches, specialty ingredients

Ingredion is a leading global ingredient solutions provider whose portfolio includes multiple gelatin substitute options, primarily based on starch. Their starches are engineered to provide clarity, stability, and texture in a vast range of food and industrial applications, offering a cost-effective alternative to gelatin.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Development of clean-label starches to meet consumer demand for simple ingredients

• Strategic partnerships to enhance sustainable sourcing of raw materials

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4️⃣ 7. TIC Gums (a Frutarom Health business)

Headquarters: White Marsh, Maryland, USA
Key Offering: Custom hydrocolloid blends, gums (e.g., xanthan, guar)

TIC Gums specializes in creating custom texture solutions for the food industry. As experts in hydrocolloids, they provide tailored gum systems that effectively replace gelatin, helping manufacturers achieve the desired mouthfeel and stability in products like dressings, beverages, and confectionery.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Pioneering work in gum acacia and other sustainable plant-based gums

• Technical expertise in formulating blends that optimize performance and cost

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3️⃣ 8. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: Nutritional ingredients, vitamin formulations with plant-based carriers

While known as a chemical giant, BASF’s Nutrition & Health segment is relevant for its role in providing alternatives for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. The company supplies ingredients used in vegetarian capsule formulations and as stabilizers in fortified foods, contributing to the gelatin substitutes ecosystem.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Investment in research for sustainable and bio-based ingredients

• Focus on creating science-backed solutions for health and nutrition

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2️⃣ 9. Koninklijke DSM N.V.

Headquarters: Heerlen, Netherlands
Key Offering: Nutritional solutions, plant-based ingredient platforms

DSM provides innovative solutions for the food, beverage, and supplement markets. Their expertise in fermentation and biotechnology supports the development of advanced gelatin substitutes, particularly for use in vitamin encapsulation and meat alternative texturization.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Strong commitment to producing sustainable, science-based products

• Development of fermentation-derived proteins and texturizers

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1️⃣ 10. Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Headquarters: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Key Offering: Cellulose gum, specialty additives for food and pharma

Ashland offers a range of specialty ingredients that serve as functional replacements for gelatin. Their portfolio includes cellulose-based gums and other hydrocolloids used as thickeners, stabilizers, and gelling agents in food, pharmaceutical, and personal care products.

Sustainability & Innovation Initiatives:

• Focus on bio-derived and renewable raw materials

• Innovation in pharmaceutical excipients for vegetarian dosage forms

Read Full Report: Gelatin Substitutes Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Gelatin Substitutes Is Innovative and Inclusive

The gelatin substitutes market is undergoing a profound transformation. While traditional gelatin remains dominant in many applications due to its cost-effectiveness, the industry is rapidly innovating with plant-based, fermentation-derived, and next-generation alternatives that cater to evolving consumer values and regulatory demands.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Accelerated adoption in pharmaceutical capsule production driven by vegetarian and halal/kosher demand

• R&D breakthroughs in precision fermentation to create animal-free collagen and gelatin equivalents

• Clean-label movement pushing for simple, recognizable plant-based ingredients

• Expansion of application areas into premium desserts, cultured meat, and personalized nutrition

Read Full Report: Gelatin Substitutes Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying ingredients—they’re enabling the global shift toward more sustainable, ethical, and inclusive food and healthcare products.