All Industries

Food

Meals and Meal Components

Ready Meals

US Prepared Meals – Market Dynamics 2026

US Prepared Meals – Market Dynamics 2026

THE MARKET

Snapshot – market size and forecast

Rising food prices could put further strain on consumers

Graph 1: consumer concerns – very concerned, by financial situation, 2026

Rising food prices could put further strain on consumers

Retail sales and forecast of prepared meals

Graph 2: total retail sales and fan chart forecast of prepared meals, at current prices, 2021-31

Retail sales and forecast of prepared meals

Retail sales of prepared meals, by segment

Graph 3: total retail sales of prepared meals, by segment, at current prices, 2021-26

Retail sales of prepared meals, by segment

Smaller brands and private label make gains

Graph 4: MULO+ share of prepared meals, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026

Sales of prepared meals by company

APPENDIX

Market definition

The market

Sales and forecast of prepared meals at inflation-adjusted prices

Sales and forecast of single-serve frozen meals at current prices

Sales and forecast of multi-serve frozen meals at current prices

Sales and forecast of multi-serve frozen meals at inflation-adjusted prices

Sales and forecast of refrigerated meals at current prices

Sales and forecast of refrigerated meals at inflation-adjusted prices

Sales and forecast of side dishes at current prices

Sales and forecast of side dishes at inflation-adjusted prices

Sales and forecast of shelf-stable meals at current prices

Sales and forecast of shelf-stable meals at inflation-adjusted prices

Sales of prepared meals, by channel, at current prices

Brand sales and share of single-serve frozen meals

Brand sales and share of multi-serve frozen meals

Brand sales and share of refrigerated meals

Brand sales and share of side dishes

Brand sales and share of shelf-stable meals

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