A Year of Innovation in the Prepared Meals and Meal Kits Market 2023

Explore the latest innovations across the global prepared meals industry in 2023. Our prepared meals and meal kits market report identifies the biggest launch activities, pivotal consumer attitudes and important advances of the year across regions like EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.

Innovation in Prepared Meals and Meal Kits – EMEA

In Europe, prepared meal brands are doubling down on sustainable packaging and production to improve their eco-credentials. Additionally, brands are responding to consumer interest in plant-based options by offering meat-free versions of popular meals such as lasagne, along with regional delicacies such as stuffed cabbage leaves.

• 23% of UK consumers are interested in ready meals that replace some of the animal protein with high-protein plant ingredients.

Innovation in Prepared Meals and Meal Kits – APAC

Convenience is a defining benefit of the prepared meals category in Asia, as time-poor consumers look for ways to simplify meal preparation. Elsewhere, prepared meal brands are incentivising consumers to engage with new and novel flavours by embracing collaboration and co-branding.

Innovation in Prepared Meals and Meal Kits – Americas

The last 12 months have seen a resurgence of animal protein flavours in prepared meals and meal kits in North America. While there is notable interest in reducing meat intake, consumers still regard meat as a dietary staple. With the majority of adults in North America including meat in their diets, prepared meal and meal kit brands are focussing innovation around the most popularly consumed animal proteins, namely chicken and beef.

• 84% of adults in the US eat animal-based proteins.

To learn more about the global prepared meals and meal kits market, take a look at our Future of Meals, Pizza, and Soup market report, or explore our extensive convenience foods market research.

Expert Analysis from an Innovation Specialist

This report, written by Mikolaj Kaczorowski, a leading innovation analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight global trends and innovation in prepared meals and add expert context to the numbers.

Vegan and plant-based claims are rising among launches in Europe, as frozen formats surge in Asia and more meat and poultry flavours arrive in North America.

Mikolaj Kaczorowski
Innovation Analyst