A period of sustained growth between 2009 and 2013 in the market ended in 2014. Scratch cooking has been one of the key contributors to slowing growth. Slowing food inflation also dampened value growth, while falling ad spend has eroded the visibility of the market.

The market also faces a considerable threat from emerging cuisines, with strong consumer interest in for example South American, Vietnamese and Korean foods. However, there also remains robust interest for example in Chinese cooking pastes and bases as well as meal kits, signalling potential for growth for the established cuisines in new product segments.

Meanwhile, consumer spending is expected to gather momentum. As the more affordable option to ethnic restaurants and takeaways, world cuisine sales through retail have benefited from the pressure on consumer incomes over several years. However, this selling point is likely to lose its appeal with growing ‘recession fatigue’, with consumers expected to start to eat out more.

This report focuses on major world foods beyond European and North American foods that have become an established part of the UK retail market. The market size covers the following types of cuisines:

• Chinese food – includes Peking, Cantonese and other Chinese variations.

• Indian food

• Mexican food

The following food categories are covered in the market size:

• Ready meals – ambient, chilled and frozen ready meals which require heating and those which require cooking. This also includes meal kits which contain ingredients for specific ethnic dishes.

• Cooking sauces – wet sauces (including pour-over and stir-fry) and dry sauces that are added to vegetables, meat or fish, in jars, tins or sachets/pouches.

• Table sauces – sauces that tend to be used after cooking, eg chilli sauce, soy sauce.

• Seasonings – include curry powder, spice mixes and fajita mixes etc.

• Accompaniments – samosas, bhajis, Chinese crackers, chutneys, poppadums, dips (including guacamole), stir-fry bases and breads (including chapattis, tortillas). Rice/noodles are excluded from the market size, unless part of a ready meal/meal kit.

Sales data for Thai ready meals is also provided in the report, though not included in the overall market size.

This report deals solely with the UK retail market.

Specifically excluded from the market size are:

• Sales through restaurants and takeaways.

• Part-prepared or ready-to-cook marinated meat and fish that use flavourings from the ethnic food market.

• Rice and noodles (unless part of a ready meal/meal kit), instant savoury noodle and rice snack products (eg Pot Noodle).

• Nacho/tortilla-style chips (unless part of a ready meal) because they are primarily sold and marketed as salty snacks rather than Mexican food.

• Fresh vegetables such as chillies.

• Kidney beans.

• Pre-prepared filled wraps; bakery wraps sold in morning goods. Tortillas are included.

• Salads, sandwiches or soups described as ‘in the style of’ or ‘inspired by’ particular cuisines, such as ‘Moroccan-spiced soup’ or ‘chicken burrito salad’.

• Other ethnic cuisines such as Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, African, Middle Eastern and South American are excluded from the market size, although these are discussed as a competitive influence where relevant. Emerging cuisines will be discussed in Emerging International Cuisines – UK, March 2015.

• European and North American foods

Please note that as a result of updated market information Mintel has adjusted the market size data against the previous report.

Value figures throughout this report are at retail selling prices (rsp) and include VAT, unless stated otherwise. Market sizes at constant 2014 prices are devised using Mintel’s food deflator.

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