Trend Check: Food Trends 2025 – Is Sunflower the New Soy?

The plant-based market is booming. More and more people are consciously reducing their meat consumption, paying attention to environmental aspects, and looking for alternatives that are both healthy and suitable for everyday use. Alongside soy and peas, a new candidate is entering the scene: sunflower. What's this trend all about? And how does sunflowerFamily position itself in the context of the food trends of 2025? An analytical look.

The facts: Veggie boom with flexitarian focus

According to vegconomist (2024), 55% of Germans now identify as flexitarians—people who consciously consume less meat. The plant-based food market in Germany is estimated to be worth over USD 574 million by 2029. Crucially, products must not only be ethically sound, but also taste good, function well, and complement familiar dishes.

Why sunflower protein?

Sunflower protein is a byproduct of oil production and thus a prime example of upcycling in food production. Unlike soy, it is allergen-free, locally available, and significantly more ecologically efficient. sunflowerHACK – based on organic sunflower protein – won the World Food Innovation Award in 2018 and has since been considered a pioneer in this development.

Soy saturation & clean label as an opportunity

While soy has long been considered the standard, demand is growing for alternatives that are regional, transparent, and allergy-friendly. sunflowerHACK uses only one ingredient—pure sunflower protein—and thus fits the clean label trend. A clear advantage over many highly processed vegan convenience products with long ingredient lists.

The food trends of 2025 at a glance

🌱 Regionality: Sunflowers from the EU, processed in Germany.
📦 Clean Label: 1 ingredient, no additives.
💪 High Protein: over 50g protein per 100g dry product.
🌍 Climatetarian: Sunflower protein saves up to 13 kg of CO₂ compared to ground beef (per kg).
💬 New narratives: sustainability, inclusion (packaging in workshops for people with disabilities), transparency.

The industry's reaction

sunflowerFamily deliberately chose sunflower protein for sustainability and allergy reasons. Other brands are following suit: the first protein bars, plant-based shakes, and ready meals are increasingly using sunflower as a base. The market is beginning to diversify – a sign that soy is no longer the only solution.

Founder's voice of sunflowerFamily: Fabian Breisinger

"The future of plant-based nutrition lies not in abstinence, but in better options. Products like sunflowerHACK capture the spirit of the times: they are versatile, healthy, and sustainable – and fit perfectly into the changing food environment of flexitarians."

Conclusion: Sunflower protein is here to stay

SunflowerHACK addresses several current trends at once – from clean label to high protein to climate-friendliness. The market is responding, consumers are open, and the food industry is changing. 2025 could be the year the sunflower becomes the new soy.

🌻 Eat less meat – start eating sunflowers.