Ready meals are pre-prepared meals designed to be quickly and easily heated up and served. They are typically sold in supermarkets, convenience stores, and other retail outlets, and they come in a wide variety of flavours and types, including frozen meals, refrigerated meals, and shelf-stable meals.
Ready meals can be complete or individual components, such as entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Some ready meals, such as vegetarian or gluten-free options, are designed for specific dietary needs or preferences.
Ready meals are popular because they are convenient and can save busy individuals and family’s time. They can be a quick and easy alternative to cooking a meal from scratch and are often less expensive than eating out at a restaurant. Ready meals can also be a good option for traveling people or needing access to a full kitchen.
However, some ready meals may be high in sodium, preservatives, and other additives and may not be as nutritious as a home-cooked meal. It is important to read the labels and choose ready meals that are lower in sodium and made with whole, natural ingredients whenever possible.
The market scope for ready meals is large and continues to grow, driven by changing lifestyles, an increase in single-person households, and a growing demand for convenience food. Ready meals are widely available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and online, and are typically sold in different packaging formats such as trays, pouches, and cans.
According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global ready meals market was valued at $72.83 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $146.15 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.5% from 2020 to 2027. The report cites factors such as changing dietary habits, increasing working women, and e-commerce as key drivers of market growth.
In terms of product types, the report highlights frozen ready meals as the largest segment of the market, with refrigerated ready meals and shelf-stable ready meals following closely behind. The report also notes that the Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience the highest growth rate in the global market due to rising disposable income and urbanization.
There are many major players in the market for ready meals, including:
- Nestle
- ConAgra Brands, Inc.
- Unileve
- The Kraft Heinz Company
- Bakkavor Group Ltd.
Commercial production of ready meals involves several stages, including:
- Ingredient preparation: The meal ingredients are sourced and prepared according to the recipe. This may involve washing, chopping, and cooking the ingredients as necessary.
- Assembly: The prepared ingredients are combined and assembled into the desired meal, which may involve filling trays or packaging containers.
- Cooking: The assembled meals are cooked using various methods such as baking, microwaving, or steaming. The cooking process may be partially or fully completed before packaging.
- Packaging: The cooked meals are then packaged in containers, which may be sealed for freshness and convenience.
- Quality control: The finished meals undergo quality control checks to ensure they meet the required taste, texture, and nutritional content standards.
- Storage and distribution: The packaged meals are stored in temperature-controlled environments to ensure freshness and distributed to retail stores or other outlets for sale to consumers.
The production process for ready meals can vary depending on the type of meal and the manufacturer. Some manufacturers may use fresh ingredients, while others may use frozen or pre-cooked ingredients. Some ready meals may be fully cooked and require reheating, while others may require additional cooking or preparation before consumption.
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