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Executive summary
- Market opportunity 1: family sizes continue to shrink
- Graph 1: family structure changes*, 2003-23
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The market
- Market factors
- Macroeconomic factors
- The proportion of one-person and two-person households will continue to rise
- Graph 2: family structure proportions*, by country
- Homecoming travel stimulates holiday consumption in lower-tier markets
- Graph 3: city ranking* by migration scale − as departure points and destinations during the Chinese New Year, 2025
- The government and industry join hands in the development of nutritious ready meals
- Market size and forecast
- Key market indicators
- The decline in frozen rice and dough products has narrowed, and innovation has become key to attracting consumers
- Graph 4: best- and worst-case forecasts of total volume sales of frozen rice and dough products, 2020-30
- Graph 5: best- and worst-case forecasts of total value sales of frozen rice and dough products, 2020-30
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The consumer
- Consumption frequency and category perception
- Chinese-style pastries and dumplings remain in the lead, and the frequency of consumption of cooked meat has significantly increased
- Graph 6: consumption frequency, 2025
- Graph 7: consumption frequency − once a week or more, by survey year, 2024 vs 2025
- Product features: the differentiated appeals to single- and two-person households
- Ready meals should focus on individual packaging and using seasonal ingredients
- Graph 8: product features of interest, by survey year, 2022 vs 2025
- Serving for one reaches more consumers
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Appendix – market size and forecast, research methodology and abbreviations
- Market size and forecast − retail sales
- Market size and forecast − retail volume
- Methodology: consumer survey
- TURF analysis methodology
- Abbreviations
This Market Dynamics report features market data extracted from Mintel’s China Ready Meals Market Report 2025. Giving you direct access to key market information and analysis from our category experts. This report is ideal for those looking for a topline summary of the China ready meals market. The full report is available to purchase here.
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