About the market:

Sales of ready meals have seen positive growth since 2000. This has mainly been driven by the high profile of healthy eating brands and retailer own labels. Within the wider ready meals market international recipes have also performed well as consumers have looked to expand their meal repertoire. A frozen ready meal is an easy option and far more attractive for exotic cuisines, than cooking from scratch. Above all, this sector tends to see a higher than average level of new product development activity to maintain consumer interest. Still, it suffers from consumers’ perceptions of second best quality and is exposed to high levels of competition from chilled meals.

Demographic trends in the UK favour further growth in sales of frozen ready meals. Smaller households are accounting for a bigger share of homes and this is being reinforced by social trends such as later marriages and more divorces. However, frozen food suppliers will need to address the perceptions of their products as second best and shift away from a rigid price focus.

About Mintel’s report:

Mintel’s new market intelligence report provides the user with a fresh insight into a market suffering from a poor image among consumers.

Compiling together the most sought-after trend data and authoritative, independent market analysis, it offers you a vital way of fully understanding the UK retail market for frozen ready meals. It also offers you unique findings from exclusive consumer research; invaluable information that will enable you to tailor your business to real consumer demand. Mintel’s research report has been designed to help you:

Keep track of the UK retail sales of frozen ready meals

Learn how traditional dishes have won consumers’ hearts

Observe men taking the lead in purchases

Disclose key players, brands and positioning

Stay informed and ahead of new product development trends

Explore consumer’s attitude of time being more important than income

Pinpoint market potential before your competitors

Estimate your benefits of a “Better for you” market just beginning to open up

Keep your tab on a clear role for the upmarket offer in the market.

Intriguing findings include:

When asked to describe their cooking and eating habits, 75% of consumers admitted to spending more on products that save time and effort.

10% purchased a healthy choice (low calorie, low fat) frozen ready meal in the last 6 months.

More variety and better range are the aspects 7% of respondents feel apply to frozen ready meals rather than to chilled..