Meals and soups in the US is set to contract in 2026, reflecting tightening household food budgets amid persistently high prices and low consumer confidence. The attractiveness of meals and soups is mixed: while the overall environment is less favourable in 2026, positive growth over the forecast period, combined with strong growth pockets in prepared salads and food kits, signals opportunities for brands that can align with evolving consumer priorities around wellness, freshness and value. The key trends shaping meals and soups include the dual pressure of affordability and the ultra-processed food backlash, channel migration towards discounters, warehouse clubs and e-commerce, and the accelerating wellness movement driven by social media, broader health knowledge and the expanding number of GLP-1 users. To succeed, brands must balance pricing pressure with value communication emphasising nutritional content, pack size and quality, while simultaneously reformulating to remove artificial dyes and additives in response to both consumer demand and increasing government regulation.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Meals and Soups industry in USA with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Meals and Soups industry in USA, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Meals and Soups in USA report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Meals and Soups in USA?
- Which are the leading brands in Meals and Soups in USA?
- How are products distributed in Meals and Soups in USA?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Meals and Soups?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in USA?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Key Data Insights
Key Industry Trends
Cost of living pressures drive meal and soups decline
Ready meal brands cater to value-seeking families
Walmart reformulates to meet clean label demands
Chart 1 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 2 Volume Sales 2021-2031
Chart 3 Value Sales by Category 2026
Rising costs to drive modest value increase in meals and soups
Prepared salads to drive strongest growth as wellness trends reshape demand
Brands to balance price increases with reformulation amid rising costs and regulations
Chart 1 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 2 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Nestlé retains lead as wellness brands and private label erode concentration
Chart 1 Company Shares 2026
Chart 2 Brand Shares 2026
Hypermarkets retain lead as discounters and warehouse clubs gain share
Retail e-commerce gains share as convenience and online deals attract consumers
Chart 1 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Affordability and clean labels drive a new wave of product design
Marie Callender's and Goodles show what reformulation can do
Reformulation is now a core business lever, not a side project
Chart 1 Real GDP Growth 2021-2031
Chart 2 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 1 Population 2021-2031
Chart 2 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 3 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Meals and Soups
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- Dried Ready Meals
- Shelf Stable Ready Meals
- Chilled Ready Meals
- Frozen Ready Meals
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- Dry Soup
- Shelf Stable Soup
- Chilled Soup
- Frozen Soup
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- Chilled Pizza
- Frozen Pizza
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- Meal Kits
- Quick Recipe Kits
- Chilled Lunch Kits
- Prepared Salads
Meals and Soups
This is the aggregation of ready meals, pizza, food kits, prepared salads, and soup. Includes: These are products that have had recipe 'skills' added to them by the manufacturer, resulting in a high degree of readiness, completion and convenience. Food kits is an exception where typically the extent of preparation is much shorter than other meal products; includes meal kits where consumers are to put together pre-portioned ingredients and cook with the guidance of recipe cards. Ready meals are generally accepted to be complete meals that require few or no extra ingredients. However, in the case of shelf stable ready meals, the term also encompasses meal 'centres’; for food kits, they do require a degree of cooking and preparation. As such, some meals may require cooking (ready-to-cook); others may simply need reheating, prior to serving (ready-to-eat). Excludes: Any products sold unpackaged and/or by weight, including food sold from a retail deli counter.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
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This report originates from Passport, our Meals and Soups research and analysis database.
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