The ready meals sector is as susceptible to trends as any other, and producers will have to adapt to keep up with healthy-eating concerns, according to research published today by Mintel.
The report found that the UK is still the largest market for ready meals in Europe, with sales of £2bn in 2006. Mintel is forecasting that the sector will see sales growth of 25% from 2006 to 2011 to reach £2.6bn in the UK.
While Germany presently lags behind France and the UK in terms of ready meals sales, Mintel is forecasting 44% growth over the five years to 2011. France is set to see the slowest growth during the same period, only 9%, as it continues with its peculiar habit of dining together on meals that have been prepared from scratch.
Michelle Strutton, European consumer analyst at Mintel, said: "Mintel's research shows that the UK is still king of convenience. The ready meals market in the UK is by far and away the most advanced in Europe. Suppliers here, especially the leading retailers such as M&S, are quick to react to new consumer trends, so offering a wide variety of exciting meals to appeal to everyone's tastes."
Overall the market for ready meals in the top five countries, Germany, France, UK, Italy and Spain, grew by 5% between 2006 and 2007 and is worth €8.4bn.