2023
9
UK World Cuisines Market Report 2023
2023-06-01T04:06:54+01:00
REPB37A6934_503C_451C_A80B_C36DF44C2C0A
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“Whilst incomes remain squeezed the increase in at-home meal occasions presents significant potential for world cuisine brands. Responding to the widespread interest in products that are suitable for energy-efficient cooking…
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  6. UK World Cuisines Market Report 2023

UK World Cuisines Market Report 2023

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Stay ahead of the curve and future-proof your business with Mintel’s UK World Cuisine Market Report 2023. Our full report is packed with consumer-led market intelligence, the latest trends and consumer behaviours affecting your industry. Get a 360° view of the international cuisine market including market size, share and forecasted growth to help you align your business strategy with the needs of your audience.

This report examines the UK retail market for world cuisine, including ready meals, cooking sauces, accompaniments, and ingredients. For information on the UK foodservice market for world cuisine, see our ethnic restaurants and takeaways market report.

Topics Analysed in this Report

  • Usage frequency of world cuisines at home and the types of products eaten or used on everyday occasions.
  • Trends in launch activity within world cuisines.
  • Opportunities for world cuisine foods during the income squeeze.
  • Consumer behaviours and attitudes related to world cuisine foods.
  • Factors that are most appealing in world cuisine products for leisure occasions.

Current UK World Cuisine Market Overview

The market benefited from the increase in at-home meal occasions as the cost-of-living crisis unfolded in 2022, and the world cuisine market size saw an increase of 7.7%. As household incomes fall further in the next year, world cuisine’s favourable reputation of offering a more affordable alternative to eating out or takeaways will continue to support the market. 

Furthermore, accompaniments and ingredients are likely to benefit from an increase in scratch cooking, which is viewed as a good way to save money. However, this is likely to be at the expense of the cooking sauces category.

UK World Cuisine Consumer Trends

World cuisine as popular as ever

With 92% of Brits eating world cuisines at home in three months to March 2023, the category continues to enjoy almost universal usage in the UK. Most consumers use world cuisine to incorporate variety into their diet, with over half of Brits eating at least five world cuisines at home. What’s more, many consumers are keen to try new world cuisines. 85% of world cuisine consumers would be interested in trying a new cuisine that shares ingredients with another world cuisine they like.

Energy efficiency growing in importance

Mintel’s market research found that 73% of consumers would be interested in trying world cuisine products that are suitable for energy-efficient cooking appliances. As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, ownership of these appliances has grown, so brands can respond to the growing consumer interest by calling out short cooking times or microwaveable products in on-pack messaging to encourage purchase.

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To learn how to connect with your audience, purchase our full UK World Cuisine Market Report 2023. Discover lucrative innovation opportunities to help your business grow during times of financial uncertainty.

Expert Insights from a Food Industry Analyst

This report, written by Alice Pilkington, a leading food and drink analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the UK world cuisine market and add expert context to the numbers.

Whilst incomes remain squeezed the increase in at-home meal occasions presents significant potential for world cuisine brands. Responding to the widespread interest in products that are suitable for energy-efficient cooking appliances is particularly pertinent. Meanwhile, the appeal of meals consisting of multiple dishes on leisure occasions and authentic snacks and desserts point to opportunities to help consumers elevate the evening-in experience.

Alice Pilkington

 

Alice Pilkington
Senior Food and Drink Analyst

Collapse All
  1. Overview

    • Key issues covered in this Report
    • Products covered in this Report
  2. Executive Summary

    • The five-year outlook for world cuisines
      • Figure 1: Category outlook, 2023-27
    • The market
    • Inflation drives world cuisine market’s sales in 2022
    • Income squeeze will provide ongoing support to world cuisines in 2023
    • Competition from foodservice will return in 2024
      • Figure 2: Market forecast retail value sales of world cuisine foods, 2017-27
    • Ready meals are big winners in 2022 whilst cooking sauces see ongoing decline; scratch cooking supports accompaniments/ingredients
      • Figure 3: UK retail value sales of world cuisines, by segment, 2020-22
    • Less established cuisines continue to out-perform
    • Companies and brands
    • Own-label remains dominant in the world cuisine market
    • Sharwood’s hit hard in Indian segment; premium brands benefit from ‘trading up while trading down’
      • Figure 4: Leading brands in the Indian ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2021-22
    • Blue Dragon retains top position in Chinese segment
      • Figure 5: Leading brands in the Chinese ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2021-22
    • The consumer
    • 92% of people eat world cuisines at home
      • Figure 6: World cuisines eaten at home in the last three months and interest in eating world cuisines in future, by cuisine, 2023
    • Half of people eat at least five world cuisines at home
      • Figure 7: Repertoire of types of world cuisines eaten, by age, 2023
    • Scratch cooking ingredients and shortcut solutions stand neck and neck for everyday world cuisine occasions
      • Figure 8: Types of world cuisine products eaten or used at home on an everyday occasion in the last three months, 2023
    • Familiar ingredients can prompt trial of new cuisines; responding to strong interest in energy-efficient products is pertinent
      • Figure 9: Behaviours related to world cuisines, 2023
    • Authenticity is most appealing quality for a leisure occasion; dine-in deals offer canvas to introduce authentic snacks and desserts
      • Figure 10: Appealing factors in world cuisine products for leisure occasions, 2023
    • Meals consisting of multiple dishes hold considerable appeal on leisure occasions
      • Figure 11: Attitudes towards world cuisines, 2023
  3. Issues and Insights

    • Responding to strong interest in energy-efficient products will be pertinent whilst incomes remain squeezed
    • Meals consisting of multiple dishes hold considerable appeal on leisure occasions
    • Collaborations between a meat-free brand and a world cuisine one chime widely
  4. Market Size and Performance

    • Inflation drives world cuisine market’s sales in 2022
      • Figure 12: UK retail value sales of world cuisine food, 2017-22
  5. Market Forecast

    • The five-year outlook for world cuisines
      • Figure 13: Category outlook, 2023-27
    • Income squeeze will provide ongoing support to world cuisines in 2023
    • Competition from foodservice will return in 2024
      • Figure 14: Market forecast retail value sales of world cuisine foods, 2017-27
    • Learnings from the last income squeeze
    • Forecast methodology
  6. Market Segmentation

    • Ready meals are big winners in 2022
      • Figure 15: UK retail value sales of world cuisine foods, by format, 2020-22
    • Less established cuisines continue to out-perform
      • Figure 16: UK retail value sales of world cuisine foods, by cuisine and format, 2020-22
  7. Market Drivers

    • Inflation will continue to eat into consumer spending power over the course of 2023
    • Further interest rates increases will hit mortgage-holders
    • High inflation and rising interest rates will compound the impact of the slowing recovery
    • Consumer spending power will be curbed
    • Low unemployment is helping underpin consumer resilience
    • Consumers’ financial wellbeing has fallen from the highs of 2021…
      • Figure 17: Household financial wellbeing index, 2016-23
    • …and most people are feeling the effects of price rises
    • Income squeeze will boost number of at-home meal occasions
    • Rise in evenings supports premium ready meals…
    • …although more economical frozen meals are also benefiting
    • Cooking from scratch likely to gain popularity
    • Energy costs may limit scratch cooking for some
    • Drop in healthy eating intentions in 2022
    • HFSS volume promotions ban postponed until October 2023
    • 2024 salt reduction targets still in place
    • Sustainability predicted to be a higher priority going forward
    • Flexitarian trend will gain greater momentum in the long term
  8. Market Share

    • Own-label remains dominant in the world cuisine market
    • Sharwood’s hit hard in Indian segment
    • Premium brands benefiting from more at-home meal occasions in 2022
      • Figure 18: Leading brands in the Indian ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
    • Blue Dragon retains top position in Chinese segment
      • Figure 19: Leading brands in the Chinese ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
    • Takis Fuego takes off in Mexican segment
      • Figure 20: Leading brands in the Mexican ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
    • Nando’s remains key player in world cuisines
    • Nestlé withdraws Mezeast just two years after launch
  9. Launch Activity and Innovation

    • Established food players grow their world cuisine presence
    • McCormick launches Mexican brand Herdez into UK market
    • Kraft Heinz launch pan-Asian Sosu from Amoy
      • Figure 21: McCormick and Kraft Heinz launch new world cuisine brands, 2022
    • Black Farmer expands into ready meals…
    • …whilst Cypressa launches into meal kits
    • Lee Kum Kee expands ‘Drizzle and Dip’ line; Oxo grows rubs and marinades offerings
      • Figure 22: Recent examples of brand extensions in world cuisines, 2022
    • Leading players bring foodservice brands to retail
    • Old El Paso and M&S explore bowl format, M&S launches ‘soup meals’
      • Figure 23: Old El Paso and M&S explore bowl format, 2022-23
    • Itsu launches sweet bao buns
    • Fusion products pose competition for world cuisine market
      • Figure 24: Recent examples of fusion world cuisine products, 2022
    • Plant-based products continue to attract attention in 2022
    • New Plant Powered range from Ben’s Original, Allplants spotlights nutrition
    • World cuisines are central to Meatless Farm’s expansion into ready meals
      • Figure 25: Recent examples of plant-based world cuisine launches, 2022
    • Better-for-you NPD continues to look to World cuisine flavours for
    • Patak’s reformulates core range; Sharwoods adds healthier poppadoms
      • Figure 26: Recent examples of world cuisine products with prominent healthy propositions, 2022-23
    • M&S and Ben’s Original look to bridge convenience and cooking
    • M&S blurs lines between Indian ready-to-cook food and meal kit in premium
      • Figure 27: M&S Collection’s Tandoori Chicken Mixed Grill, 2022
    • Ben’s Original positions rice pouches as ‘meal base’
      • Figure 28: Ben’s Original uses meal kit cues in rice pouches, 2023
    • Restaurant brands continue to grow their presence
    • SpiceBox restaurant launches into retail…
    • …while Yo! features in Tesco’s new premium meal deal and Nando’s launches Flavour Shakers
      • Figure 29: Recent examples of restaurant-branded world cuisine products, 2022-23
  10. Advertising and Marketing Activity

    • Leading world cuisine brands significantly cut back on adspend in 2022
      • Figure 30: Total above-the line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure for selected world cuisine brands, 2021 and 2022 (sorted by 2022)
    • Sharwood’s features in Premier Foods new ‘Best Restaurant in Town’ campaign
    • Old El Paso continues long-standing ‘Fajita Friday’ theme
    • Herdez celebrates UK launch with taco tour
    • Lee Kum Kee partners with food influencer Big Zuu
    • Tesco marks Ramadan in latest Food Love Stories campaign
    • Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
  11. Usage of World Cuisines at Home

    • 92% of people eat world cuisines at home
      • Figure 31: World cuisines eaten at home in the last three months and interest in eating world cuisines in future, by cuisine, 2023
    • Early 2023 sees boost for at-home usage of most world cuisines
    • Less established cuisines are on long-term upward trajectory
      • Figure 32: Overall usage of world cuisines, by cuisine, 2017-23
    • Half of people eat at least five world cuisines at home
      • Figure 33: Repertoire of types of world cuisines eaten, by age, 2023
  12. World Cuisine Products Eaten or Used at Home on an Everyday Occasion

    • Scratch cooking ingredients and shortcut solutions stand neck and neck for everyday world cuisine occasions
      • Figure 34: Types of world cuisine products eaten or used at home on an everyday occasion in the last three months, 2023
  13. Behaviours Related to World Cuisines

    • Familiar ingredients can prompt trial of new cuisines
      • Figure 35: Behaviours related to world cuisines, 2023
    • Prioritising ingredients in front-of-pack messaging remains firmly warranted…
      • Figure 36: Recent examples of world cuisine products which highlight ingredients in front-of-pack messaging, 2021-23
    • …as well as flavour profile descriptions
      • Figure 37: The Spice Tailor details what each spice contributes to the overall flavour profile, 2023
      • Figure 38: Al’Fez calls out flavour profiles, 2022-23
    • In-store location and signposting can reinforce similarity
    • Responding to strong interest in energy-efficient products will be important in both short and long term
    • Prominent short cooking times and microwaveability call-outs are an easy win…
      • Figure 39: Recent examples of world cuisine products calling out short cooking times and microwaveability, 2022-23
    • …whilst grouping quick-cook products together in-store will also chime
    • Ongoing opportunities for world cuisine restaurant brands
      • Figure 40: Street Kitchen calls out its compatibility with multiple appliances, 2022
    • McCormick and DTC brand Spicentice offer cues for NPD
      • Figure 41: McCormick Air Fryer Korean Style Fried Chicken Recipe Base, 2022
    • Nearly half would be interested in a collaboration between a meat-free brand and a world cuisine one
    • World food and meat-free trends are already crossing paths
      • Figure 42: Recent examples of world cuisine brands exploring meat-free and meat-free brands exploring world flavours, 2022
    • Collaborations can be mutually beneficial
    • Flying Goose Sriracha offer cues for other collaborations
      • Figure 43: Flying Goose Sriracha collaborates with The Tofoo Co., 2022
    • Flagging suitable pairings can also tap into interest in collaborations
      • Figure 44: Kellogg’s and Alpro flag suitable pairings in-store, 2023
  14. Appealing Factors in World Cuisine Products for Leisure Occasions

    • Authenticity is most appealing quality for world cuisine product for a leisure occasion
      • Figure 45: Appealing factors in world cuisine products for leisure occasions, 2023
    • ‘Authentic’ call-outs are already commonplace in meal components but rare in snacks and desserts
      • Figure 46: Recent examples of ‘authentic’ call-outs in world cuisine meal kits, ready meals and cooking sauces, 2022
    • Dine-in deals offer perfect canvas to create rounded evening-in experience
      • Figure 47: Examples of world cuisine snacks and desserts launched in the UK market, 2020-22
    • Ongoing opportunities for single-serve products
    • A third find easy adaptability to different flavour preferences most appealing for leisure occasions
    • On-pack customisation advice currently focuses on meat substitutions or serving suggestions
      • Figure 48: Examples of world cuisine products giving on-pack customisation advice, 2021-22
    • Marketing activity and on-pack call-outs can emphasise potential pairings
    • Seasonings can reinforce the role that they also play at the end of meals
      • Figure 49: Waitrose and Sainsbury’s explore ‘topper’ concepts, 2022
  15. Attitudes towards World Cuisines

    • Meals consisting of multiple dishes hold considerable appeal on leisure occasions
      • Figure 50: Attitudes towards world cuisines, 2023
    • Existing offering points to opportunities for other cuisines…
      • Figure 51: Examples of dishes consisting of multiple dishes, 2020-22
    • …and different serving sizes
    • Old El Paso offers cues for more mindful hands-on eating
    • Encouraging users to “share their spread” online can drive engagement…
    • …and effort leading to an elevated experience
  16. Appendix – Data Sources, Abbreviations and Supporting Information

    • Abbreviations
    • Consumer research methodology
  17. Appendix – Market Share

      • Figure 52: Leading manufacturers in the Indian ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
      • Figure 53: Leading manufacturers in the Chinese ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
      • Figure 54: Leading manufacturers in the Mexican ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
      • Figure 55: Leading brands in the Other international ready meals, cooking sauces and accompaniments/ingredients market, by value, 2020-22
  18. Appendix – Forecast Methodology

    • Market forecast and prediction intervals
      • Figure 56: Market forecast and prediction intervals for UK value sales of world cuisines, 2022-27
    • Market drivers and assumptions
    • Forecast methodology

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