This report examines the ready meals industry in Ireland. The report will investigate the trends that drive or curtail the market from further growth and development. Mintel previously examined this market in December 2003, when the market was demonstrating strong year on year growth. Since that time the market has been slowing down in terms of growth, as more food categories are responding to the trend for convenience by providing meal solutions that require little preparation offering even greater competition for the ready meals market.

Increasing media attention surrounding health and diet issues such as the levels of fat, salt and sugar contained in processed food is having an impact on the ready meals market, particularly the frozen sector, which is experiencing a decline in retail sales. The overall ready meals market is segmented by three sectors, namely: frozen, chilled, and ambient. There are further sub-categories within these segments that will be highlighted in the Market Segmentation section of this report.