Convenience and a shortage of free time are two of the main factors influencing the rise in consumption of ready meals, as more consumers are turning to this category by seeking new ingredients and premium products, according to a new report by Canadean.
“People want to free up some time on their busy schedules and are actively looking for convenient products to reduce the time they spend on food preparation,” says Kirsty Nolan, analyst at Canadean.
According to the report, consumers seek products that suit their hectic lifestyles, influencing US$314 billion of food and beverages consumption in 2013. Of all consumer categories analyzed, urban males between the age of 16 and 35 alone were responsible for 16.7% of food and beverage consumption by volume in 2013.
The report also shows that the search for convenience is one of the key factors why microwavable food continues to be a huge trend – despite consumers growing increasingly aware of healthy eating. Nolan says: “Since its initial launch in the late 60s, the countertop microwave oven has become an essential in modern kitchens globally. The challenge for ready meal manufacturers in the coming years will be to come up with new, innovative products that are positioned around premium quality.”