The consumer industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by convenience, health and wellness, environmental sustainability, and the growing importance of technologies such as 3D food printer, alternative proteins, and traceability enablers. In the last three years alone, there have been over 52,000 patents filed and granted in the consumer industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in consumer: anabolic muscle supplements. Buy the report here.
However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
30+ innovations will shape the consumer industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the consumer industry using innovation intensity models built on over 12,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, microencapsulated proteins, plant based cheese substitutes, and texturized vegetable proteins are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Beverage pods, edible oil non-spreads and recombinant steviol glycosides are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are anabolic muscle supplements and protein-fortified beverages, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the consumer industry
Anabolic muscle supplements is a key innovation area in consumer
Anabolic training helps to develop of muscles from protein and nutrients. The process of anabolism, which includes the synthesis of intricate molecules, results in the development and differentiation of cells as well as an increase in body size.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 70+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established consumer companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of anabolic muscle supplements.
Key players in anabolic muscle supplements – a disruptive innovation in the consumer industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to anabolic muscle supplements
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Nestle is the leading patent filer in anabolic muscle supplements, along with Axcella Health. Some other leading patent filers in the space include Fonterra Co-operative Group, Danone, and Abbott Laboratories. In 2022, Danone introduced, through online channels in China, a trio of healthy ageing nutritional supplements, designed to be consumed at three distinct times during the day. The product includes a probiotic fiber powder drink for gut and immune health.
In terms of application diversity, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs leads the pack. The US Federal Government and the Government of United States stand in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Axcella Health holds the top position, followed by Abbott Laboratories and DSM-Firmenich.
Anabolic muscle supplements play an important role in muscle development and are commonly used by athletes and other bodybuilders to increase muscle mass and strength. In addition, they help to increase the production of red blood cells. Leading organisations will introduce steroids that match the demands of consumers in the near future.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the consumer industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Consumer.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
