Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
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- Figure 1: Estimated value sales of ready meals market, NI and RoI, 2010-20
- Market factors
- Contents of ready meals remain a concern after the horsemeat scandal
- Scratch cooking growing in popularity
- “Healthy” claims confuse consumers
- Dietary claims remain niche in ready meals market
- Changing consumer demographics present a challenge for ready meals
- Companies, brands and innovations
- The consumer
- Prepared pizza is the most popular ready meal
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- Figure 2: Consumers who have bought ready meals in the last three months on a weekly basis, by type, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Chinese cuisine most popular amongst Irish consumers
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- Figure 3: Types of ready meals purchased in the last three months, by cuisine, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Branded prepared meals prove most popular
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- Figure 4: Style of ready meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Ready meals in plastic trays are associated as being the freshest
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- Figure 5: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals, by format, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Consumers remain wary of meat contents in ready meals
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- Figure 6: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, NI and RoI, September 2015
- What we think
Issues and Insights
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- What are the market challenges for ready meals?
- The facts
- The implications
- How is the market expected to perform in 2015?
- The facts
- The implications
- What are the most popular ready meals?
- The facts
- The implications
- What cuisines are most popular among Irish consumers?
- The facts
- The implications
- What are the qualities associated with ready meals?
- The facts
- The implications
The Market – What You Need to Know
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- Ready meals market set for a 2.2% increase in 2015
- Chilled ready meals account for the largest segment
- Contents of ready meals remain a concern after the horsemeat scandal
- Cooking from scratch growing in popularity
- ‘Healthy’ claims confuse consumers
- Low traction with dietary claims on ready meals
- Ageing population could impact ready meals market
Market Drivers
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- Horsemeat scandal remains a concern
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- Figure 7: Consumers who have not eaten chilled or frozen ready meals in the last three months, NI and RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 8: Consumer attitudes towards ready meals, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Scratch cooking growing in popularity
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- Figure 9: Frequency of preparing/cooking meals from scratch, RoI, 2007-15
- Processed meat cancer fears
- “Healthy” claims confuse consumers
- Dietary claims remain niche in ready meals market
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- Figure 10: Types of ready meals that meet dietary requirements that consumers have bought in the last three months, NI and RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 11: Consumers who have bought low-fat ready meals in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Free-from ready meals remain niche
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- Figure 12: Consumers who have bought gluten-free ready meals in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Ageing population presents a challenge for ready meals
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- Figure 13: Consumers who have not eaten frozen ready meals in the last three months, by age, NI and RoI, September 2015
- One-person households are on the rise
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- Figure 14: Percentage of private households, by number of occupants, NI and RoI, 2011
Market Size and Forecast
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- Ready meals sales set for a 2.2% increase in 2015
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- Figure 15: Estimated value sales of ready meals, IoI, Ni and RoI, 2010-20
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- Figure 16: Estimated value sales of ready meals market, NI and RoI, 2010-20
- Chilled ready meals account for the largest segment
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- Figure 17: Estimated segmentation of the ready meals market, by three main sub-sectors, IoI, 2014
Companies and Innovations – What You Need to Know
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- NPD in the ready meals category takes a hit in 2014
- M&S is the top company for NPD with ethnic flavours of keen interest
- Restaurant and chef-promoted ready meals prove popular
Who’s Innovating?
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- Prepared meals are the top-performing category
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- Figure 18: Top ready meal launches, by sub-category, UK and Ireland, 2010-15
- Prepared meals
- Pizza flavour varieties focusing on Spain and Italy
- Own-label ready meals dominate the market
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- Figure 19: Branded and private-label ready meal launches, UK and Ireland, 2010-15
- Premium own-label ready meals are likely to continue to perform well
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- Figure 20: Premium and economy ready meal launches, UK and Ireland, 2012-15
- M&S launches the most ready meals in 2014
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- Figure 21: Top ready meal launches, by top four companies, UK and Ireland, 2010-15
- Ethnic flavours excel in ready meals market
- Chef- and restaurant-inspired ready meals offer scope
Company Profiles
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- Ballymaguire Foods
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Tesco
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Sainsbury’s
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Asda
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Dunnes Stores
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Marks & Spencer
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- SuperValu
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Kerry Foods
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Findus
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Heinz
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Recent developments
- Weight Watchers
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Co-operative Food Group
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Birds Eye
- Key points
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent developments
- Dr Oetker
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent Developments
- 2 Sisters Food Group
- Key facts
- Product portfolio
- Brand NPD
- Recent Developments
The Consumer – What You Need to Know
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- The most popular types of ready meals and frequency of consumption
- Chinese-style ready meals are the most popular cuisine
- Branded prepared meals prove most popular
- Ready meals in plastic trays are associated as being the freshest
- Consumers remain wary of meat contents in ready meals
The Consumer – Frequency of Consumption
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- Prepared pizza is the most popular ready meal
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- Figure 22: The frequency with which consumers have bought ready meals in the last three months, by type, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Pizza most popular among families
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- Figure 23: Consumers who have bought frozen pizza on a weekly basis in the last three months, by age of children, NI and RoI, September 2015
- NI consumers purchase chilled ready meals more regularly
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- Figure 24: How often consumers have bought chilled ready meals in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Frozen ready meals favoured by men
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- Figure 25: Consumers who have bought frozen ready meals on a weekly basis in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Ready-to-cook foods appeal to younger consumers
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- Figure 26: Consumers who have bought ready-to-cook foods (ie prepared foods that require no further preparation but require cooking eg Sainsbury’s Just Cook Chicken Breast Mini Roast) on a weekly basis in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Consumers seek to personalise their meals
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- Figure 27: Consumers who have bought chilled meal kits (eg kit including separate meal components such as rice, sauce, chicken & vegetables) in the last three months, by frequency, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Meal kits offer scope for growth
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- Figure 28: Consumers who have bought meal kits (eg fajita kits) in the last three months, by frequency, NI and RoI, September 2015
The Consumer – Types of Ready Meal Cuisine Purchased
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- Chinese cuisine most popular amongst Irish consumers
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- Figure 29: Types of ready meals purchased in the last three months, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Growth potential for Mexican-style ready meals
- Younger generation are more likely to opt for Chinese
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- Figure 30: Chinese ready meals purchased in the last three months, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015.
- Students want Chinese and Italian-style ready meals
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- Figure 31: Chinese-style ready meals purchased in the last three months, by work status, RoI and NI, September 2015
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- Figure 32: Italian-style ready meals purchased in the last three months, by work status, RoI and NI, September 2015
- Scope for premiumisation of ready meals to target more affluent consumers
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- Figure 33: Chinese-style ready meals purchased in the last three months, by social class, RoI and NI, September 2015
- Men still favour traditional ready meals
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- Figure 34: Consumers who purchased traditional ready meals, RoI and NI, October 2013 and September 2015
- Women in NI more likely to buy prepared vegetables
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- Figure 35: Prepared vegetables bought in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
The Consumer – Types of Ready Meal Brands Purchased
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- Branded prepared meals prove most popular
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- Figure 36: Style of ready meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Branded ready meals favoured by parents
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- Figure 37: Consumers who have bought branded prepared meal (eg Young's, Goodfella's) in the last three months, by age of children, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Affluent consumers show a higher preference towards premium own-label
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- Figure 38: Consumers who have bought premium own-label prepared meal (eg Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, Tesco Finest) in the last three months, by social class, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Healthy ranges appeal to women
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- Figure 39: Consumers who have bought prepared meals from a supermarket healthy range (eg Asda Good for you!, Tesco Healthy Living) in the last three months, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 40: Percentage of new products launched in the ready meals category with “slimming” claims, UK and Ireland, 2010-15
The Consumer – Qualities Associated with Ready Meals
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- Tinned ready meals rated the most unappealing
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- Figure 41: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals, by format, NI and RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 42: Top qualities associated with ready meals in tins, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Ready meals in plastic trays are associated as being the freshest type of ready meal
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- Figure 43: Top qualities associated with ready meals in plastic trays, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Pots and pouches of ready meals’ top quality is convenience
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- Figure 44: Top qualities associated with ready meals in pots (eg plastic) and pouches, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Meal kits perceived as innovative with high-quality ingredients
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- Figure 45: Top qualities associated with ready meals kits (eg fajita kits), NI and RoI, September 2015
The Consumer – Attitudes towards Ready Meals
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- Consumers are still wary of ready meal ingredients
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- Figure 46: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Interest in free-from ready meals
- Irish consumers willing to pay for ready meal ingredients sourced in IoI
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- Figure 47: Agreement with the statement “Prepared meals made with Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland-sourced ingredients are worth paying more for”, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Consumers remain wary of nutritional contents
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- Figure 48: Agreement with the statement “I am concerned that prepared meals may contain ingredients that I am not aware of”, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 49: Agreement with the statement “I trust that more checks are performed when sourcing meat for prepared meals compared to a few years ago”, by gender, NI and RoI, September 2015
- Ready meals’ expense remains an issue
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- Figure 50: Agreement with the statement “Prepared meals have become more expensive over the past year”, by gender and age, NI and RoI, September 2015
Appendix
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- Consumer data
- Data sources
- Abbreviations
- NI Toluna tables
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- Figure 51: How often consumers have bought chilled ready meals in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 52: How often consumers have bought frozen ready meals in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 53: How often consumers have bought ready meals stored at room temperature (eg in a pouch or tin) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 54: How often consumers have bought chilled meal kits (eg kit including separate meal components such as rice, sauce, chicken & vegetables) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 55: How often consumers have bought meal kits stored at room temperature (eg fajita kit) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 56: How often consumers have bought ready-to-cook foods (ie prepared foods that require no further preparation but require cooking eg Sainsbury’s Just Cook Chicken Breast Mini Roast) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 57: How often consumers have bought chilled soup (eg New Covent Garden Soup) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 58: How often consumers have bought soup stored at room temperature (eg canned, pouches, jars) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 59: How often consumers have bought dry packet soup (ie including instant cup of soup sachets) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 60: How often consumers have bought chilled pizza in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 61: How often consumers have bought frozen pizza in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 62: How often consumers have bought pastry-based pies and pasties (ie chilled, frozen, tinned) in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 63: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 64: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 65: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015 (continued)
- Figure 66: Types of ready meals that meet dietary requirements that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 67: Types of ready meals that meet dietary requirements that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015 (continued)
- Figure 68: Style of ready meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, NI, September 2015
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- Figure 69: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, by demographics, NI, September 2015
- Figure 70: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, by demographics, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 71: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in plastic trays, NI, September 2015
- Figure 72: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in plastic trays, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 73: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pots, NI, September 2015
- Figure 74: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pots, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 75: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pouches, NI, September 2015
- Figure 76: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pouches, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 77: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in tins, NI, September 2015
- Figure 78: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in tins, NI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 79: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals meal kit formats, NI, September 2015
- Figure 80: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals meal kit formats, NI, September 2015 (continued)
- RoI Toluna tables
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- Figure 81: How often consumers have bought chilled ready meals in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 82: How often consumers have bought frozen ready meals in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 83: How often consumers have bought ready meals stored at room temperature (eg in a pouch or tin) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 84: How often consumers have bought chilled meal kits (eg kit including separate meal components such as rice, sauce, chicken & vegetables) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 85: How often consumers have bought meal kits stored at room temperature (eg fajita kit) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 86: How often consumers have bought ready-to-cook foods (ie prepared foods that require no further preparation but require cooking eg Sainsbury’s Just Cook Chicken Breast Mini Roast) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 87: How often consumers have bought chilled soup (eg New Covent Garden Soup) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 88: How often consumers have bought soup stored at room temperature (eg canned, pouches, jars) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 89: How often consumers have bought dry packet soup (ie including instant cup of soup sachets) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 90: How often consumers have bought chilled pizza in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 91: How often consumers have bought frozen pizza in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 92: How often consumers have bought pastry-based pies and pasties (ie chilled, frozen, tinned) in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 93: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 94: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 95: Types of ready meals and prepared meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
- Figure 96: Types of ready meals that meet dietary requirements that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 97: Types of ready meals that meet dietary requirements that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
- Figure 98: Style of ready meals that consumers have bought in the last three months, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
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- Figure 99: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, by demographics, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 100: Agreement with statements relating to ready meals, by demographics, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 101: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in plastic trays, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 102: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in plastic trays, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 103: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pots, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 104: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pots, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 105: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pouches, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 106: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in pouches, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 107: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in tins, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 108: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals that come in tins, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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- Figure 109: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals meal kit formats, RoI, September 2015
- Figure 110: Qualities that consumers associate with ready meals meal kit formats, RoI, September 2015 (continued)
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