2025
9
US Prepared Meals Market Report 2025
2025-07-07T10:03:42+00:00
REP0652295E_81FD_4A69_94CD_772E88ACB77A
3695
184418
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Report
en_GB
Sales growth in the overall prepared category has largely stalled in the past two years amid financial uncertainty and cautious consumer spending. Refrigerated meals and sides remain a notable exception,…
US
Ready Meals
simple

US Prepared Meals Market Report 2025

"Even as consumers remain focused on price, an emphasis on quality is key to maximizing the category's many opportunities."

John Owen - Associate Director, Food and Retail

John Owen - Associate Director, Food and Retail

US Prepared Meals Market Analysis

Historical data from the previous years shows fluctuating performance in the US prepared meals market, with refrigerated meals showing modest growth while frozen meals struggled. Key growth drivers include demand for healthier options, customizable meals, and snacking trends, though overcoming the perception of overly processed meals will be crucial for continued recovery.

US Prepared Meals Market Trends

Consumer trends in the US Prepared Meals Market reflect a growing focus on value, health, and convenience. Price and portion size remain top priorities as consumers become more budget-conscious, especially amid economic uncertainty. Health-conscious buyers prioritize protein content, low sodium, and functional benefits like fiber and probiotics. There’s also an increasing interest in customization, with consumers desiring more variety and the ability to adjust flavors or spice levels. Younger consumers are increasingly turning to prepared meals as snacks, and there’s a rising demand for fresh, less processed ingredients to counter the perception of prepared meals being overly processed. These shifts are fueling growth in the Prepared Meals Industry, with brands responding to the evolving needs of the market.

Purchasing the US Prepared Meals Market Report 2025 reveals a shift toward healthier, customizable meals, with Gen Z driving demand for plant-based, high-protein, and lower-sodium options. Brands are responding with flexible meal solutions, innovative cuisines, and sustainable packaging, catering to evolving consumer preferences for convenience, wellness, and indulgence.

About The Report

The US Prepared Meals Market Report 2025 provides comprehensive insights into market trends, consumer behaviors, and future forecasts, highlighting key drivers such as health-conscious choices, customization preferences, and evolving snacking habits. The report covers areas such as market size, growth projections, segmentation, and consumer purchasing factors, with a focus on innovations in ingredient quality, sustainability, and convenience. It also delves into demographic-specific preferences, including insights into Gen Z and other key consumer groups. This Prepared Meals Market Report will benefit food manufacturers, retailers, investors, and marketing professionals looking to understand emerging trends and opportunities in the prepared meals market.

Key Topics Analyzed in the Report

  • Analysis of sales and market share trends in key segments
  • Trends in prepared meals, new products and innovation
  • Consumer interest in prepared meal product concepts
  • Consumer attitudes and behaviors toward prepared meals
Report AttributesDetails
Published DateJune 2025
Data Range2019-2030
Measurement MetricsRevenue in US $
Country FocusUnited States of America
Consumer Data2,000 internet users aged 18+, April 2025
Number of Pages61
Market SegmentationSingle-Serve Frozen Meals, Multi-Serve Frozen Meals, Refrigerated Meals, Refrigerated Side Dishes, Frozen Side Dishes, Shelf-Stable Meals
Leading CompaniesConagra Brands Inc, Nestlé SA, Hormel Foods Corporation, The Kraft Heinz Company, Post Holdings Inc, Reser’s Fine Foods, Amy’s Kitchen Inc, Campbell Soup Company, InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises Inc, Kevin’s Natural Foods, McCormick’s Zatarain’s, Tandoor Chef, Daily Harvest, Pastificio Rana SpA, Take Home Tonight, Golden West Food Group, Travis Kelce’s Kitchen, John Soules Foods Inc, Smithfield Foods Inc, Del Real Foods, Pulmuone Foods USA

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Market size & forecast of prepared meals
    • Market predictions
    • What consumers want & why
    • Opportunities
    • Blurring the line between meals and snacks creates new opportunities
    • Help users personalize their prepared meals
    • To facilitate healthy eating, get closer to fresh
  2. MARKET DYNAMICS

    • Market context
    • Market drivers
    • Concern over elevated prices continues to weigh on consumers, and could intensify as trade war ramps up
    • Graph 1: top consumer concerns, 2024-25
    • Inflation remains cool for now
    • Market size and forecast
    • Category growth stalls, but bright spots remain
    • Retail sales and forecast of prepared meals
    • Market segmentation
    • Continued modest growth for refrigerated meals and sides partially offsets frozen meals’ weak performance
    • Retail sales of prepared meals, by segment
    • Graph 2: total retail sales of prepared meals, by segment, at current prices, 2019-30
    • Retail sales of prepared meals, by segment
    • Market share/brand share
    • Little share movement among big competitors as private label continues to gain
    • Sales of prepared meals, by company
    • All others expand in single-serve frozen meals
    • Company and brand share of single-serve frozen meals
    • Value for money drives share in multi-serve frozen meals
    • Company and brand share of multi-serve frozen meals
    • Smaller brands continue to transform the refrigerated meals segment
    • Company and brand share of refrigerated meals
    • Private label dominates in side dishes
    • Company and brand share of side dishes
    • Increasing cuisine variety lifts sales of “all other” in shelf-stable meals
    • Company and brand share of shelf-stable meals
  3. CONSUMER INSIGHTS

    • Consumer fast facts
    • Consumption of prepared meals
    • Individual types have room to grow
    • Graph 3: past-three-month consumption of prepared meals, 2025
    • A solution for managing busy schedules: usage higher among younger adults
    • Graph 4: past-three-month consumption of prepared meals, by age, 2025
    • Prepared meal usage occasions
    • Opportunities to expand snacking and supplemental usage
    • Graph 5: prepared meal use occasions, 2025
    • Prepared meal purchase factors
    • Value for the money is key, but prepared meal purchasers also look beyond price
    • Graph 6: prepared meal purchase factors, 2025
    • Priorities vary from channel to channel
    • Graph 7: prepared meal purchase factors, by age, by grocery retailer shopped most often, 2025
    • Prepared meal health factors
    • Protein is key, but just part of the definition of “healthy”
    • Graph 8: prepared meal health factors, 2025
    • Older users particularly focused on low/no claims
    • Graph 9: prepared meal health factors, by age, 2025
    • Prepared meal shopping behaviors
    • Category shoppers look for ways to save
    • Graph 10: prepared meal shopping behaviors, 2025
    • Help shoppers save on their own terms
    • Graph 11: prepared meal shopping behaviors, by financial situation, 2025
    • Interest in prepared meal concepts
    • An opportunity to optimize variety
    • Graph 12: interest in prepared meal concepts, by age, 2025
    • Attitudes toward prepared meals
    • Quality ingredients and clean labels could be key to maximizing opportunity with GLP-1 users
    • Graph 13: attitudes toward prepared meals, by GLP-1 usage, 2025
    • Beyond convenience: creativity and cuisine exploration can drive category engagement
    • Graph 14: attitudes toward prepared meals, by age, 2025
    • Room for premium products even amid budget pressure
    • Graph 15: attitudes toward prepared meals, by financial situation, 2025
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • Clean label claims slip, creating an opportunity for brands that can fill the void
    • Graph 16: incidence of clean label claims on prepared meal launches, 2018-25
    • Clean label launches
    • Plant-based claims gain momentum
    • Graph 17: incidence of plant-based and related claims on prepared meal launches, 2018-25
    • Plant-based launches
    • Nestle’s Vital Pursuit, designed for GLP-1 users, has potential for broader appeal
    • Graph 18: [no title]
    • Even amid a drive for more healthful alternatives, unapologetic indulgence holds its own as inspiration for launches
    • Reinventing shelf-stable meals
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Generations
    • Abbreviations and terms
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast fan chart methodology
    • 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 single-serve frozen meals at inflation-adjusted 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

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