2025
9
UK Processed Poultry and Red Meat Main Meal Components Market Report 2025
2025-10-31T12:01:30+00:00
REPC98232CC_1AB1_4E72_BCE0_FAB087EBF1C2
2195
188149
[{"name":"Meat and Fish","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/food\/meat-fish"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"UK","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/uk-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
Precooked hot meat products hold untapped potential in retail. While the grocers have scaled back hot food counters since COVID-19, half of shoppers (54%) find precooked hot meat…
UK
Meat and Fish
simple

UK Processed Poultry and Red Meat Main Meal Components Market Report 2025

"The category enjoys near-universal usage, but traditional formats face growing competition. Convenience and replacing foodservice meals remain key NPD priorities."

Amy Bishop, Analyst UK Food & Drink Reports

Amy Bishop, Analyst UK Food & Drink Reports

UK Processed Meats Market – Trends and Insights

  • Precooked hot meat products hold untapped potential in retail. While the grocers have scaled back hot food counters since COVID-19, half of shoppers (54%) find precooked hot meat products in retail appealing. This suggests strong potential for such products to compete with foodservice for ‘food for now’ occasions.
  • The popularity of international cuisines and consumers’ love of newness will continue to put pressure on traditional processed meat meal components. Product innovation remains crucial to maintain the category’s relevance.
  • Once consumer confidence regains momentum, sustainability will become more front of mind. This is expected to buoy the meat reduction trend, reaffirming the need for green initiatives from the category to keep shoppers on side.
  • Shortcut products that help consumers recreate foodservice experiences at home will remain pertinent in 2026, as pressures on household budgets continue to curb restaurant and takeaway meals.
  • Beyond continued NPD in the slow-cooked segment, air-fryer friendly and rotisserie-style products hold strong potential in the premium space, given consumer interest.

Key Issues Covered in the Report

  • Key trends in launch activity and future opportunities
  • Usage of processed meat and key demographics
  • Choice factors for processed meat products, including the importance of speed of preparation
  • Behaviours related to processed meat, including the importance of exciting flavours in product choice
  • Attitudes towards processed meat, including interest in processed meat products sold hot.
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Market predictions
    • Opportunities
    • Elevate convenience proposition
    • Help shoppers recreate foodservice experiences
    • Look to social media and brand collaborations for flavour NPD
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market size
    • Market size and forecast
    • Modest growth in 2025
    • Graph 1: retail value sales of selected processed poultry and red meat main meal components, 2019-25
    • Market forecast
    • Price rises will fuel value growth over 2025-30
    • Graph 2: market forecast for retail value sales of processed poultry and red meat main meal components, 2019-30
    • Pressures on volumes ahead; price rises will prop up value growth
    • Market segmentation
    • Pressures on household finances help lower-cost options
    • Graph 3: value retail sales of red meat main meal components and coated poultry, by segment, 2021-25
    • Rising beef prices take a toll on burgers in 2025
    • Market share
    • Own-label leads, Heck gains in chilled sausages
    • Graph 4: retail sales of leading brands in chilled sausages, by value, 2022/23-2024/25
    • Market drivers
    • Three in 10 see their finances as healthy
    • Graph 5: the financial wellbeing index, 2016-25
    • Cautious consumer spending lingers
    • Graph 6: the financial confidence index, 2021-25
    • Steep inflation in beef bolsters appeal of pork and poultry
    • Graph 7: CPI index, selected food categories and restaurant meals, 2020-25
    • Government confirms HFSS ad restrictions, delays implementation until January 2026
    • Breaded poultry falls within HFSS restrictions, but burgers and sausages are outside the scope
    • Two in three try to eat healthily all or most of the time
    • Graph 8: how often people try to eat healthily, 2019-25
    • Ultra-processed foods remain in the spotlight
    • Population growth offers some support to processed meat
    • Graph 9: population, by age, 2020, 2025 and 2030
    • Sustainability remains pertinent
    • Supermarkets step up chicken welfare commitments
    • Reciprocal tariff-free quota deal with US and removal of the Export Health Certificates for exports to EU
  3. WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY

    • Usage of processed meat and poultry products
    • Nine in 10 eat processed meat/poultry
    • Graph 10: usage of processed meat products by type, 2025
    • Age groups show stark differences in product choice
    • Graph 11: usage of selected processed meat products by age, 2025
    • Air-fryer-friendly and slow-cooked hold further potential amid focus on convenience
    • Same-day use and quick preparation play a key role in driving processed meat choices
    • Convenience leads in processed meat choices
    • Short cooking time warrants more spotlight
    • Slow-cooked can tap into everyday eating occasions
    • Strong demand for air-fryer-suited processed meat, including premium options
    • Elevate convenience to compete with foodservice
    • Strong interest in hot, ready-to-heat and air-fryer-suited options
    • Demand for precooked hot meat products
    • Birds Eye makes an appearance at hot food counters
    • Rotisserie products hold potential in ready-to-heat
    • Restaurant trends support rotisserie
    • Helping home cooks recreate restaurant meals remains pertinent
    • Flavour innovation remains crucial
    • Tap interest in exciting flavours, brand collaborations and social media
    • Flavour NPD remains crucial but hotly competitive
    • Look to social media for NPD flavour inspiration
    • Brand collaborations hold untapped potential
    • Birds Eye and Iceland offer inspiration
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • Share of slow-cooked launches rises
    • Graph 12: share of products referencing ‘slow-cooked’ in product description, in processed meat and poultry product launches, 2020-25
    • Slow-cooked launches span from premium to everyday and from classic British to world food flavours
    • Expansion in slow-cooked
    • Air-fryer-friendly positioning takes centre stage
    • NPD looks to capitalise on topical themes
    • NPD continues to explore international flavours
    • Chicken launches continue to explore fakeaways
    • Leading brands expand with low-fuss processed meat products
    • New brands move into processed meat
    • Advertising and marketing activity
    • Advertising expenditure increases in 2024
    • Graph 13: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on processed poultry and red meat products*, 2021-25
    • Richmond brings ‘Good Times’ to teatime
    • Birds Eye spotlights how its frozen food ‘feeds greatness’
    • Birds Eye’s ‘That’s a Recipe for a Life Well Fed’
    • AHDB supports meat with two campaigns in early 2025
    • Waitrose champions animal welfare with ‘check your chicken’
    • Waitrose highlights Better Chicken Commitment
  5. APPENDIX

    • Supplementary data
    • UK: retail sales of leading brands in chilled sausages, by value, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading brands in chilled sausages, by volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading manufacturers in chilled sausages, by value, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading manufacturers in chilled sausages, by volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading brands in bacon, by value and volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading manufacturers in bacon, by value and volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading brands in canned meats, by value, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading brands in canned meats, by volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading manufacturers in canned meats, by value, 2022/23-2024/25
    • UK: retail sales of leading manufacturers in canned meats, by volume, 2022/23-2024/25
    • Market forecast data and methodology
    • Market forecast
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast – note on US trade disruption
    • Report scope and definitions
    • Market definition
    • Market definition (continued)
    • Abbreviations and terms
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Nielsen Ad Intel coverage

Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel

The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:

  • Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
  • Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
  • Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
  • Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.

What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?

Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.

The Four Pillars of Our Research

We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:

  • Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
  • Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
  • Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
  • Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.

Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.

£ 2,195 (Excl.Tax)
  • Download today with instant access
  • Multiple formats provided
  • Interactive databook included
  • Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more

Trusted by global industry leaders

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
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
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
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

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more