2026
10
A Year of Innovation in Prepared Meals and Pizza 2026
2026-09-08T10:02:10+00:00
REPB639CF61_3176_4D57_B9CF_6131767D5747
2195
196107
[{"name":"Meals and Meal Components","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/meals-meal-components"},{"name":"A Year of Innovation","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/a-year-of-innovation"},{"name":"Global","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/global-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Innovation in prepared meals and pizza focuses on adding value through protein fortification, restaurant-quality experiences and appliance-friendly convenience.Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst…
Global
Meals and Meal Components
simple

A Year of Innovation in Prepared Meals and Pizza 2026

Innovation in prepared meals and pizza focuses on adding value through protein fortification, restaurant-quality experiences and appliance-friendly convenience.Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst

Trusted by leading global brands

Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
Amazon logo
Deutsch brand logo
waitrose
Bauer-Media-Group
mediacom-logo-e1438678858172 (1)
VML Logo
Epsilon Logo
VocaLink_Mastercard_logo-PNG-1
4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Collapse All
    • What we have seen
    • Our pick of the most innovative launches in this review
    • Other innovative launches
    • Global spotlight: prepared meal innovation maintains a clear lead over pizza launches
    • Graph 1: prepared meals and pizza launches, by sub-category, 2021-26
    • The Future of Meals and Pizza: 2026
  1. EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA (EMEA)

    • Europe: innovation in kids' meals balances nutrition with entertainment
    • Getting kids to eat nutritious meals is a challenge for many parents
    • Brands make children's meals healthier and more interactive
    • Brand renovation/innovation: Wildly Tasty meets demand for nutritious kids' meals with its vegetable-led recipe
    • Europe: protein becomes a focus of innovation
    • Consumers look for more-nutritious ready meals as interest in protein grows
    • Prepared meals and pizza launches with protein claims lag behind consumer interest
    • Protein-rich prepared meals and pizzas
    • High-protein, GLP-1-friendly ready meals for evolving dietary needs
    • The Middle East & Africa (MEA)
    • Wholesome plant-based and vegetarian meals and pizzas, packed with fibre and protein
  2. ASIA PACIFIC (APAC)

    • Asia: busy lifestyles inspire new ways to enjoy pizza
    • Consumers are looking for ways to spend less time in the kitchen
    • Demand for convenience drives growth in microwaveable and ease-of-use claims
    • Graph 2: pizza launches, by select convenience claims, 2021-26
    • Pizza brands move beyond traditional formats to meet the needs of busy consumers
    • Brand renovation/innovation: Otoki / Ottogi relaunches its spoonable cup pizzas
    • Asia: branded products continue to dominate prepared meal launches, but private label is gaining momentum
    • Cost-conscious consumers open opportunities for private label
    • Branded still dominates, but private label is slowly gaining ground
    • Graph 3: prepared meals launches, by share of branded vs private label, 2021-26
    • Retailers partner with established brands to differentiate prepared meals
    • Australia & New Zealand
    • Premium meal kits bring restaurant-style dishes home
    • MasterChef launches cheeseburger pie blending comfort food and convenience
    • George Street Kitchen introducing New Zealand-made chef-crafted meal solutions
  3. THE AMERICAS

    • North America: consumers' evolving dietary needs shape innovation
    • Consumers show interest in gluten-free and alternative pizza crusts
    • Gluten-free and allergen-friendly claims continue to lead pizza innovation
    • Graph 4: pizza launches, by select 'suitable-for' claims, 2024-26
    • Brands reimagine pizza bases to cater to evolving dietary preferences
    • Brand renovation/innovation: Yukan Foods launches gluten-free pizza with an innovative cassava base
    • North America: chilled prepared meal launches are rising
    • Chilled prepared meals gain ground as consumers seek fresh, premium convenience
    • Chilled prepared meal launches are on the rise in North America, whilst frozen and shelf-stable options continue to decline
    • Graph 5: prepared meal launches, by storage type, 2021-26
    • Macro-transparent meals gain ground in chilled prepared meals
    • Latin America
    • Prepared meals and pizza launches in Latin America become increasingly air-fryer-compatible
    • Graph 6: prepared meal and pizza launches with 'air fryer' in their product description, 2021-26
    • Air-fryer-ready launches gain momentum in Brazil and Colombia
Download Report Summary

Innovation in prepared meals and pizza focuses on adding value through protein fortification, restaurant-quality experiences and appliance-friendly convenience.

Amrin Walji, Senior Innovation Analyst

£ 2,195 excl. Tax
Secure direct checkout
Instant PDF download
Portal access included
Need help deciding? Get in touch

Trusted by global industry leaders

4.5 stars
Source: G2.com, Inc.
Deutsch logo

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch
Waitrose & Partners logo

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
Tenth Wave logo

Mintel helps us when we want to know something quickly – it provides fast answers to our questions. If we need to get a view of what’s going on in a particular market it’s very useful.

When carrying out background research, I find Mintel an excellent starting point.

The fact that it covers so many markets is a big plus for me– instead of having to buy specialist products in each area we are interested in, especially when we only require a brief view on a particular market, we can go to Mintel for help as a one-stop shop. I find Mintel a useful and valuable resource.

Ben Zeidler, Director - Research and Analytics, Tenth Wave
Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Amazon logo

Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.

Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.

Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
VocaLink logo

We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.

As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.

We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.

 

Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
Bauer Media Group logo

We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.

They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.

Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group
Mediacom logo

Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.

It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.

Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Wincanton logo

When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.

They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.

So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.

Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
Abacus logo

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus