After seeing higher retail volume and current value growth than before the pandemic in 2020, overall ready meals is set to turn to decline in 2021, although sales are expected to remain higher than the level seen in 2019, before the emergence of COVID-19. Frozen ready meals saw the strongest growth in 2020.
Although they were becoming increasingly popular even before the pandemic, the closure of foodservice channels and the subsequent plunge in food delivery orders generated increased demand for self-heating ready meals amongst consumers without the time, skill or inclination to cook at home in 2020. Self-heating ready meals are extremely easy to make, as they provide a heating kit which requires only the addition of cold water to prepare the dish.
Although frozen pizza saw minor retail current value growth in 2020 after several years of falling sales, it is set to return to decline in 2021, and will also remain the smallest category within ready meals. Food delivery is common in China, and there are an increasing number of pizza delivery-only stores, such as the local provider Champion Pizza, which have small stores and limited rent, so the prices charged for their pizza are not too high.
Ready meals is expected to see retail volume and current value growth throughout the forecast period. Along with the continued strong performance of frozen ready meals, chilled ready meals is also set to maintain dynamic growth.
Zhengzhou Sanquan Food is the largest player in ready meals in the Chinese market, and the leader in frozen ready meals, which is set to see the fastest current value growth in the forecast period. Moreover, the company is set to play an important role in the development of ready meals moving forward, as it looks to expand its business into new product areas and channels.
Self-heating ready meals is set to continue to see growth during the forecast period, with a large number of new players entering the segment and consumers valuing their convenience. However, growth may be constrained by concerns about safety issues.
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Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Ready Meals industry in China with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
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Ready Meals
This is the aggregation of shelf stable, dried, chilled and frozen ready meals. They have a high degree of readiness and convenience. In most instances they are ready-to-heat or ready-to-eat. 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’.
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Ready Meals research and analysis database.
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