UK Processed Poultry and Red Meat Main Meal Components Market Report 2025
2025-10-31T12:01:30+00:00
REPC98232CC_1AB1_4E72_BCE0_FAB087EBF1C2
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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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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