Ready meals/ready-to-cook foods are expected to see volume sales return to modest growth in 2024, driven by an impressive performance from the frozen segment. Rising financial confidence will continue to fuel modest volume growth in the category over the next five years.
Improving financial confidence is expected to see health become a higher priority for consumers, and thus also in the ready meals/ready-to-cook category. Manufacturers can tap into this interest by spotlighting nutrition and healthy ingredients, and by further leveraging high protein and fibre call-outs. However, tackling the negative perceptions about the taste of healthy ready meals will be crucial to unlock this potential.
The airfryer trend represents a substantial untapped opportunity for ready meals. While more than half (55%) of UK consumers express interest in a ready meal that can be prepared in an airfryer, airfryer call-outs remain scarce in the category.
This Report examines ready meals and ready-to-cook foods. Mintel’s definition includes products sold through the grocery retail channel including:
Market size data includes all retail sales of ready meals and ready-to-cook foods through the grocery retail channel, but excludes direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales typically ordered by telephone or online from ready meals specialists (eg Wiltshire Farm Foods) and ‘meals on wheels’.
This report was written by Isabelle Shilling. Isabelle joined Mintel in 2021, in her current role she writes and produces reports which cover a variety of topics within the UK food and drink industry.
Volume sales grew modestly in 2024. Better-for-you NPD remains a key opportunity, including visible healthy ingredients and high protein/fibre call-outs.
Isabelle Shilling
Research Analyst
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