Ready Meals Market Size, Share & Growth By 2033

Ready Meals Market Overview

The Ready Meals Market size was valued at USD 182.47 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 293.25 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.11% from 2025 to 2033.

The ready meals market is an essential part of the global packaged food industry, serving billions of busy consumers who demand convenience. In 2024, more than 15 billion ready meals were sold worldwide, covering frozen, chilled, and ambient formats. Europe remains the largest region by volume, consuming over 5 billion ready meals annually, driven by strong demand in the UK, Germany, and France.

North America follows closely, with the United States alone accounting for about 4 billion ready meals sold each year. Asia-Pacific is catching up rapidly; Japan, China, and India together consumed over 3 billion ready meals in 2024. The rise of single-person households and longer working hours are major drivers, with nearly 30% of urban households worldwide purchasing ready meals at least once a week.

Frozen ready meals dominate globally, representing about 50% of total sales, while chilled and ambient meals make up the balance. Ready meals are distributed through supermarkets, quick service restaurants, and convenience retailers, with supermarkets accounting for nearly 60% of sales globally. With more than 1,000 brands competing worldwide, the market is diversifying with healthier options, organic ingredients, and plant-based meals to meet changing consumer preferences.

Key Findings

DRIVER: Increasing urbanization and busy lifestyles drove more than 15 billion ready meal purchases worldwide in 2024.

COUNTRY/REGION: Europe leads global consumption, with more than 5 billion ready meals sold annually, led by the UK and Germany.

SEGMENT: Frozen ready meals remain the dominant segment, making up about 50% of total global ready meal sales last year.

Ready Meals Market Trends

The ready meals market is seeing significant changes as health awareness, sustainability, and digital shopping reshape consumer habits. In 2024, frozen ready meals maintained the largest market share, representing over 7.5 billion units sold globally. Chilled ready meals continued to expand, reaching 4 billion units last year as consumers look for fresher alternatives with fewer preservatives. Ambient ready meals, especially shelf-stable Asian noodle packs and canned meals, made up around 3.5 billion units in total. Health trends are pushing producers to reduce sodium and artificial additives; in Europe, more than 500 million ready meals sold in 2024 carried “low salt” labels. Plant-based ready meals are gaining ground, with over 400 million vegetarian and vegan ready meals sold worldwide last year. Sustainability is also a trend — about 20% of new packaging launched in 2023–2024 used recycled or compostable materials. E-commerce plays a growing role; in the US alone, more than 800 million ready meals were purchased through online grocery channels last year. Meal kits that combine semi-prepped ingredients with frozen or chilled components are rising too, with around 200 million units sold globally in 2024. Premium segments like organic and gourmet ready meals are also trending, accounting for 8% of total sales worldwide. Foodservice chains and quick service restaurants added more ready-to-heat items to menus, capturing more on-the-go demand from urban professionals. These trends show how the ready meals market is shifting from basic convenience to health-focused, sustainable, and premium offerings that cater to evolving consumer expectations.

Ready Meals Market Dynamics

The dynamics behind the ready meals market reflect lifestyle changes, supply chain improvements, and innovations in preservation. In 2024, about 60% of global households in urban centers bought at least one ready meal per week, translating to over 15 billion annual units sold. Busy urban professionals aged 25–44 are the primary buyers, representing 50% of total demand. Cost remains an advantage — on average, frozen ready meals cost 20–30% less per serving than ordering takeout, making them popular for families and students. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are adding ready meal combos for take-home, with more than 500 million units sold through QSRs globally in 2024.

DRIVER

Busy lifestyles and the demand for convenience

The top growth driver for ready meals is the modern consumer’s lack of time. In 2024, over 40% of urban adults globally reported using ready meals to save cooking time during the workweek. More than 5 billion ready meals were sold in Europe alone to single-person households and busy families seeking quick, low-prep dinners.

RESTRAINT

Growing consumer scrutiny of health and nutrition

One restraint is increasing consumer caution about ingredients. In 2024, more than 30% of consumers surveyed in Europe and North America said they avoid ready meals high in sodium and artificial preservatives. Nearly 200 million units of high-sodium frozen meals saw declining sales last year as buyers switched to healthier alternatives.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion of plant-based and premium segments

A clear opportunity lies in healthier and premium ready meals. In 2024, more than 400 million plant-based ready meals were sold, up from 300 million the year before. Brands launching organic and gourmet lines see higher repeat purchases, especially in North America and Europe, where premium frozen ready meals grew by 12% in unit sales.

CHALLENGE

Supply chain and cold storage costs

A major challenge is the high cost of refrigerated and frozen logistics. Global cold chain capacity for ready meals reached over 50 million metric tons last year, but energy costs and transport delays remain barriers. In Asia-Pacific, about 15% of frozen ready meal shipments faced delays in 2024 due to cold storage bottlenecks, leading to waste and added costs.

Ready Meals Market Segmentation

The ready meals market is segmented by type and application to serve diverse consumer needs. By type, frozen ready meals make up about 50% of global volume, chilled ready meals hold about 25%, and ambient meals account for the remaining 25%. By application, quick service restaurants (QSRs) distribute about 10% of total ready meals sold globally, while supermarkets lead with 60% of total units. Convenience stores and independent food retailers account for about 30%, focusing on single-serve meals for on-the-go consumers. Segmentation helps brands align production with storage, shelf life, and distribution channel requirements.

By Type

Frozen: Frozen ready meals remain the biggest segment, with over 7.5 billion units sold globally in 2024. Popular products include frozen pizzas, ready-to-bake pasta, and complete dinner trays. Frozen meals offer longer shelf life, typically lasting 6–12 months, which appeals to families and cost-conscious buyers.
Chilled: Chilled ready meals are growing steadily, making up about 4 billion units in 2024. Consumers prefer chilled meals for perceived freshness, with a shelf life of 5–10 days. Ready salads, pasta dishes, and premium chef-prepared boxes dominate this segment, popular in Europe and urban Asian markets.
Ambient Meals: Ambient ready meals — shelf-stable options that do not require refrigeration — sold about 3.5 billion units globally in 2024. Examples include instant noodle packs, canned pasta, and retort pouch curries. These are especially popular in Asia-Pacific and among students and travelers who need portable meals with long shelf life.

By Application

Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs): Quick Service Restaurants play an important role in the ready meals market by offering prepared, ready-to-heat, or ready-to-eat meal combos for take-home dining. In 2024, QSRs accounted for about 10% of global ready meal sales, selling more than 1.5 billion units worldwide.
Supermarkets: Supermarkets remain the dominant distribution channel for ready meals globally. In 2024, about 60% of all ready meal units — more than 9 billion — were sold through large grocery chains and supermarket retailers. Private label ready meals are especially strong in Europe, making up 40% of supermarket ready meal sales.
Convenience Food Retailers: Convenience food retailers, including corner stores, gas stations, and small grocery shops, play a vital role in selling ready meals for immediate consumption. In 2024, convenience channels accounted for about 30% of global ready meal sales, moving more than 4.5 billion units worldwide. Asia-Pacific dominates this segment — Japan’s convenience stores alone sell over 100 million microwave-ready bento boxes every month.

Regional Outlook for the Ready Meals Market

The ready meals market’s regional performance highlights differences in consumer behavior, packaging formats, and retail strategies. Europe continues to lead, driven by strong demand in the UK, Germany, and France, where ready meals have become a weekly staple for millions of busy households. North America follows closely, supported by massive frozen ready meal volumes and the popularity of meal kits and premium organic options. Asia-Pacific is catching up fast as urbanization and modern retail channels expand, bringing frozen and chilled meals to millions of first-time buyers. The Middle East & Africa market is smaller but growing steadily as urban households seek convenience meals and modern cold chain systems expand.

North America

North America remains a major market for ready meals, with the United States alone selling more than 4 billion units in 2024. Frozen meals dominate, making up about 60% of North American volume, with popular items like frozen pizzas and microwavable pasta bowls leading sales. Private labels from large supermarket chains accounted for over 30% of all ready meals sold in the region last year. E-commerce continues to gain traction, with over 800 million ready meals ordered online in 2024. Meal kit services that include frozen or chilled ready-to-cook portions grew by 15% last year, reaching over 200 million shipments.

Europe

Europe leads global ready meals consumption, with more than 5 billion units sold in 2024. The UK remains Europe’s biggest consumer, with an estimated 1.8 billion ready meals purchased, followed by Germany at 1.2 billion units. Chilled ready meals are especially popular in the UK and France, accounting for over 50% of sales in some categories. Retailer private labels are dominant, representing about 40% of all ready meal purchases across Europe. Sustainability trends continue to shape the market — about 25% of new ready meal packs in Europe now use recycled or compostable trays. Organic and vegetarian meals are also gaining share, with 250 million units sold last year.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region for ready meals. In 2024, over 3 billion units were sold across China, India, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Instant noodles remain the biggest driver, with China alone consuming about 40 billion instant noodle servings each year — a significant share classified as ambient ready meals. Japan and South Korea prefer premium chilled bento-style meals, selling about 500 million units in 2024. India’s rising middle class is boosting frozen meal sales, with over 200 million frozen ready meals sold last year. Convenience store chains like 7-Eleven stock millions of grab-and-go ambient meals daily, serving urban commuters.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa region is smaller but shows strong growth potential. In 2024, more than 500 million ready meals were sold, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading demand due to high urbanization rates. Frozen meals dominate, accounting for about 65% of regional volume. Imported brands remain popular in premium supermarket chains. Rapid urban expansion and rising young professional populations are boosting single-serve and microwave-ready meal sales. Cold chain investments continue — regional chilled storage capacity for ready meals expanded by 12% in 2024, allowing supermarkets to offer fresher options for the first time in several local markets.

List of Top Ready Meals Companies

Nestlé (Switzerland)
Conagra Brands (USA)
Kraft Heinz (USA)
Tyson Foods (USA)
Nomad Foods (UK)
McCain Foods (Canada)
Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (Japan)
Bakkavor Group (UK)
Campbell Soup Company (USA)
Oetker (Germany)

Nestlé (Switzerland): Nestlé remains one of the world’s top ready meal producers, selling more than 1.2 billion ready meal units annually across its various frozen, chilled, and ambient brands. Nestlé’s portfolio covers frozen dinners, healthy prepared meals, and plant-based ready meals sold in supermarkets worldwide.

Conagra Brands (USA): Conagra Brands is a leading North American ready meals company, with over 900 million frozen and chilled ready meal units sold each year. Its brands dominate supermarket freezer aisles, with popular products like frozen entrees, single-serve dinners, and family-sized meals.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

Investments in the ready meals market continue to expand, driven by demand for modern factories, better cold chain logistics, and sustainable packaging. In 2024, more than 500 new production lines were added worldwide to keep up with changing consumer tastes for healthier, premium, and plant-based ready meals. Major brands invested heavily in eco-friendly packaging — over 1 billion ready meal trays made from recycled PET or compostable pulp were produced last year. Cold chain capacity increased too, with global frozen storage infrastructure growing by over 5 million metric tons to handle rising frozen meal volumes. Private equity funds are backing regional ready meal startups that target premium organic or local cuisine niches — in Europe alone, more than 50 small brands secured new funding rounds in 2024. In Asia-Pacific, investments are flowing into frozen meal production and shelf-stable ambient meals, with Japanese and Korean companies launching bento boxes and grab-and-go snacks for commuters. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are also investing in new ready meal combos for take-home dining, selling more than 500 million units through drive-thru and pick-up counters worldwide. E-commerce investments continue to grow, with over 200 million ready meals shipped via online grocery platforms in North America last year. Robotics and automation are transforming production lines; some new frozen meal plants can produce 5,000 ready meals per hour using fully automated packaging and portioning systems. Sustainability remains a big opportunity, as 60% of consumers in Europe now say recyclable packaging influences purchase decisions. These investments show how the ready meals market is positioning itself to serve millions of busy households seeking convenience and quality.

New Product Development

Innovation keeps the ready meals market competitive. In 2024, over 500 new ready meal SKUs were launched globally, ranging from plant-based recipes to regionally inspired dishes. Frozen meal makers introduced low-sodium, high-protein bowls targeting health-conscious buyers; more than 200 million “better-for-you” frozen meals were sold last year. Chilled meal suppliers added premium chef-prepared options like gourmet pasta and salad kits, reaching 100 million units in 2024. Asian brands launched new instant noodle flavors and microwaveable curry packs — Japan alone sold over 150 million premium ambient meal packs featuring local recipes. Gluten-free ready meals expanded too, with over 50 million units sold in Europe and North America. Packaging design is also evolving; single-serve microwavable trays with steam vents made up 40% of new frozen meal packs last year. Meal kit companies continue to blur the line with ready meals by offering semi-prepped frozen or chilled dishes that can be ready in under 10 minutes, selling more than 200 million hybrid packs in 2024. Digital recipes and QR code add-ons now help buyers personalize sauces or add fresh ingredients. Premium brands are experimenting with recyclable and compostable trays, with over 300 million eco-friendly packs launched last year. Product lines are expanding beyond dinner; breakfast-ready frozen burritos, healthy microwavable bowls, and snack-sized chilled meals are tapping into new dayparts. Many leading brands are also testing AI-powered consumer trend tools to design recipes that fit local tastes faster than ever. Together, these developments show how ready meals continue to evolve from basic convenience to health-focused, eco-friendly, and gourmet options.

Five Recent Developments

Nestlé launched a new plant-based frozen meal line in Europe, selling over 50 million units in its first year.
Conagra Brands expanded its healthy frozen meals segment with 30 new SKUs and sold 100 million units in 2024.
Kraft Heinz introduced recyclable trays for 200 million frozen dinners across North America in 2023.
Tyson Foods added 100,000 metric tons of new frozen meal production capacity in its US factories in 2024.
Nomad Foods partnered with local suppliers to launch 20 new regional chilled meal flavors in the UK and Germany in 2024.

Report Coverage of Ready Meals Market

This report covers all aspects of the ready meals market, tracking production, distribution, retail, and innovation trends worldwide. More than 15 billion ready meals were sold globally in 2024, with frozen meals leading at over 7.5 billion units. Chilled ready meals contributed 4 billion units, while ambient shelf-stable meals made up the balance at about 3.5 billion units. The report outlines how supermarkets dominate distribution with 60% of sales, QSRs hold about 10%, and convenience retailers about 30%. Europe leads global consumption with over 5 billion ready meals sold annually, followed by North America at 4 billion units and Asia-Pacific at 3 billion units. Major brands like Nestlé and Conagra Brands together deliver more than 2 billion ready meal units each year, covering frozen dinners, chilled chef-prepared trays, and ambient meal kits. The report highlights the surge in healthier options, with over 400 million plant-based ready meals sold last year, and 500 million low-sodium meals launched to meet consumer health demands. New packaging trends are reshaping sustainability efforts, with over 1 billion recyclable or compostable trays produced in 2023–2024 alone. E-commerce sales crossed 800 million ready meals in North America, showing how online grocery shopping continues to transform distribution. Cold chain infrastructure remains crucial, with frozen logistics capacity expanding by 5 million metric tons globally to handle rising volumes. From production to retail, this report provides detailed insights and data-driven analysis for stakeholders navigating the highly competitive ready meals market.