The ready to eat meals market - Italy (2023)

1.2 A growing global market

In ****, the global ready-to-eat meals market reached a value of $*** billion. Between **** and ****, a compound annual growth rate (***) of *% is expected, thanks to which the market could touch a total value of nearly $*** billion.

Global ready-to-eat meals market estimate World, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: Grand view research The European market represents one of the most important segments of the global ready-to-eat meals market. In ****, the market value on this continent reached $**.** billion and is expected to reach $***.* billion by **** thanks to a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.**%. Ready-to-eat meals market Europe, ****-****, in billions of dollars Mordorintelligence The North American market is less developed than the European market, with the total value standing at $**.** billion in ****. However, between **** and ****, the projected compound annual growth rate (***) is higher than that of Europe, *.**%. By ****, it is thus projected that the North American ready-to-eat meals market could reach a value of $**.* billion. Ready-to-eat meals market North America, ****-****, in billions of dollars Mordorintelligence

1.3 The Italian market

It can be described as an exceptional dynamism that, in recent years, is characterizing the world of ready meals within the consumer packaged goods industry. The ready meal is increasingly being experienced as a meal within the home, thanks to the possibility of giving variety to the menu and the service component offered. Today, in fact, the ready meal segment turns out to be one of the largest in the entire food industry.

Between **** and ****, the value of sales within the large-scale retail (***) channel increased by **.*%. The trend shows a positive trend during the entire period and especially between **** and **** when the value of sales shows an increase of **.*%, which is half of that recorded during the entire period.

Market for ready meals Italy, ****-****, in billions of euros *data available through February IRI

Analyzing the turnover of companies active in the production of meals and ready meals (***) were not confirmed in subsequent years. Therefore, it can be assumed that the increase in sales recorded in the B*C channel is reflected in increased turnover of large agribusinesses that within their offerings also include the production of ready meals and meals.

Turnover of enterprises producing meals and prepared meals Italy, ****-****, ...

1.4 The consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

The outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in February **** led to, among other things, a general increase in the consumer price index. The sector of meals and ready meals is not exempt from this increase. Through the analysis of the consumer price index for ready meals, it is possible to show an increase of **.* points between January **** and September ****. This means that over a period of ** months, consumer prices for ready meals increased by ** percent. The increase recorded between **** and **** is * times that recorded during the ****-**** period. Compared to ****, ready meals have increased in consumer prices by **.*%. Consumer price index for ready meals Italy, ****-****, base ****=*** Istat The increase in consumer prices is nothing but a reflection of the increase in producer prices. Between January **** and September ****, the producer price index for the meals and ready meals industry increased by **.* points, which is reflected in a **.*% increase in costs. Again, the increase over the past ** months is higher than the increase between **** and **** (***). However, unlike other sectors, the ready meals industry has a lower producer price index value than the consumer price index. This means that the price increase for consumers is attributable not only to the production stage but also ...

2.1 Demand in Italy

In order to analyze the demand for ready meals in Italy, annual household spending on the purchase of ready meals is first considered. Between **** and ****, the average household expenditure appears to be growing, rising from **.* euros per year to almost ** euros per year (***). The growth appears to be steady throughout the period and does not seem to have been affected by the pandemic outbreak as evidenced by the *.*% increase between **** and **** and **.*% increase between **** and ****.

Annual household spending on ready meals Italy, ****-****, in euros Istat

Regarding consumer preferences, the largest expenditure is in the fresh ready meals segment, which alone collects */* of total sales (***).

Breakdown of sales by type of product preservation Italy, ****, % IRI

Delving deeper into the demand for frozen ready meals, the only one for which updated data are available, the first course segment dominates Italians' spending with **.*% of the total. This is followed by frozen main courses at **.*% and side dishes at **.*%. Finally, vegetable protein substitutes account for just *.*% of total sales.

Frozen ready meals consumption by product segment Italy, ****, % Institutosurgelati

2.2 Demand drivers

Key demand drivers include:

Convenience: in an increasingly hectic and busy society, convenience becomes a key factor driving demand for ready meals. These products offer a quick and easy solution for meals, reducing the time and effort required for food preparation. The ability to have a meal ready in minutes is very attractive to those with limited time, such as busy professionals or families with both working parents. In addition, the availability of a variety of ready-made meal options allows consumers to have quick choices without completely sacrificing variety and taste. Variety and cultural exploration: ready meals offer a wide range of culinary options that allow consumers to explore different flavors and cultures without having to cook from scratch. The availability of ethnic ready meals, in particular, opens a window into different culinary traditions, allowing consumers to experience otherwise inaccessible or unknown flavors. This variety can break the monotony of the daily diet and offer an enriching culinary experience. For example, the trend toward Oriental, African, and Mexican ready meals shows a growing openness to different culinary cultures. Price: price is a determining factor in the consumption of ready meals. Many consumers look for inexpensive options that offer good value for ...

2.3 Geographical distribution of demand

In order to analyze the geographical distiribution of demand, a map was created with the average monthly expenditure of Italian households on ready meals. In the absence of more precise data, the breakdown is by Italian macro-region (***).

Demand appears to be extremely uneven along the peninsula. The North clearly leads the Italian market, with average monthly spending standing at *.** euros per household. It is followed by the Center, where on average families spend *.** euros per month on the purchase of ready meals (***). Finally, the South records the lowest figure, with an average monthly expenditure of *.** euros per family, **.*% lower than the North and **.*% lower than the Center.

2.4 New demand trends: new flavors and quality

**** shows a growing trend toward preference for ethnic ready meals and the importance of quality in ready meals in Italy.

Preference for ethnic ready meals: interest in ethnic ready meals is growing in Italy, with a particular preference for oriental dishes accounting for **% of the market, followed by African (***) dishes. This could be related to consumers' curiosity to explore different culinary cultures and enjoy a variety of flavors without having to cook from scratch. Young people are particularly likely to purchase ethnic ready meals, driven by curiosity to try new recipes and flavors. This opens the market to a wide range of culinary options, which, favored by the younger segment, are becoming increasingly central to consumer choices.

Emphasis on quality: quality is a key factor in the choice of ready meals. Consumers are looking for ready meals that use high-quality ingredients, preferably local or regional, that not only offer good flavor but also health benefits. In particular, Italian ingredients and regionality are seen as signs of quality, and consumers also value sustainability in packaging and production. In addition, there is a growing interest in special or healthy diets. This includes a range of organic, "free from" (***), and natural products. The industry ...

3.1 Market structure

To analyze the structure of the Italian market for ready meals, companies under Ateco Code **.** "Production of meals and prepared dishes" are considered. In particular, the number of enterprises active in the sector, the number of employees and the legal form of enterprises will be highlighted. In addition, a brief analysis on the characteristics of the production of prepared meals will be provided.

Number of enterprises

Between **** and ****, the total number of active enterprises under Ateco Code **.** appears to be growing (***) between **** and ****.

Enterprises active in the production of meals and prepared meals sector Italy, ****-****, in number Istat

Employees

In terms of the number of employees, between **** and **** the total number shows growth (***). The growth in the number of employees against a decline in the number of enterprises indicates a gradual concentration of the market around leading players.

Employees enterprises producing meals and prepared dishes Italy, ****-****, in numbers Istat

Legal form

Regarding the legal form of enterprises, sole proprietorships are the most common form of business in Italy, gathering **.*% of the total. This is followed by limited liability companies (***).

Enterprises active in the production of prepared meals and dishes, breakdown by legal form Italy, ****, % Istat

3.2 Value chain

An overview of the convenience food value chain is summarized below.

Source: ****

3.3 The main manufacturers

The following are some of the leading meal and ready meal producers in Italy:

Italpizza s.p.a: founded in ****, it has established itself as one of the main co-producers for the most important international retailers, positioning itself as a reference point in the premium frozen pizza segment. With more than **** employees, Italpizza has an impressive production capacity of *** million pizzas per year and exports about **% of its products to ** countries, recording a continuous increase in revenue. A distinctive aspect of the company is the quality of its pizzas, guaranteed by an artisanal process that includes a dough leavening for over ** hours, manual stretching and filling of the product, and baking in a wood oven. This approach ensures a product that truly reflects the authentic Italian pizza experience.

Piatti Freschi Italia s.p.a: was founded in **** by two successful family businesses, the French Fleury Michon and the Italian excellence Fratelli Beretta. In **** Piatti Freschi Italia acquired SGI- Sapori e Gusto Italiani srl, a producer of high quality gastronomic specialties in the ranges: seafood, vegetables, reconstituted olives, and plain and filled fresh pasta. today it is the leading company in Italy in the production of fresh ready meals and snacks; it ...

3.4 The distribution

As for the number of active enterprises in the non-specialized retail sector (***), in **** these are **,***. Of the total, **.*% are minimarkets, **.*% are supermarkets, *.*% are discount stores, and only *.*% are hypermarkets. Number of enterprises in the sector: Retail trade in non-specialized establishments (***) Italy, ****, in numbers. Istat regarding the distribution of ready meals, large-scale retail trade (***) rank below **%.

Breakdown of the value of sales of ready meals by type of establishment Italy, ****, % IRI

A list of the main players active in the large-scale retail sector is proposed below:

Conad: founded in **** as a consortium of consumer cooperatives, with the aim of offering its members high quality products at competitive prices. Over the years, Conad has continued to expand, opening new stores throughout Italy and collaborating with other food and non-food companies to offer its customers a wide range of products and services.

Coop:founded in Milan in ****, is a system of Italian cooperatives that operates a network of supermarkets, superstores and hypermarkets. In ****, the branded product revolution is unveiled, five thousand new products on the shelves in five years, an experiment never tried in the entire European retail sector.

Carrefour: present in Italy since ****, the company is a franchise leader in the large-scale retail ...

4.1 Structure of the offer

Ready meals are pre-cooked or pre-cooked food preparations that require little or no additional culinary intervention before consumption. They provide a quick and practical solution for those who do not have the time or ability to prepare meals from scratch. Prepared meals can be categorized by method of preservation, by type of cooking, and by type of consumer's diet.

Preservation: Fresh: Fresh ready meals are refrigerated and tend to have a shorter shelf life than other options. They are often perceived as fresher and of better quality than frozen or room temperature ready meals. Frozen: frozen ready meals are stored in the freezer and tend to have a longer shelf life. This storage method offers the possibility and convenience of storing food for longer periods of time than fresh products. Ambient: room-temperature ready meals are stored in airtight packages that allow a long shelf life without refrigeration. Examples may include canned soups, canned meals, or dehydrated ready meals. Type of cuisine: Ethnic: Ethnic ready meals offer a variety of culinary options from different cultures and regions of the world. Examples include Asian foods such as sushi, Mediterranean foods such as hummus, or Mexican foods such as tacos and guacamole. Traditional: Traditional ...

4.2 The prices

The following is a list of some dishes and ready meals available in the Italian market:

4.3 New supply trends: entic and vegetarian dishes

Recent changes in the supply of ready-to-eat dishes and meals substantially reflect trends in the more general food and beverage sector. Two of the main trends are moving in the direction of increasingly ethnic and vegetarian dishes. An analysis of these two emerging segments is offered below:

Ethnic dishes: the trend of ethnic ready meals is growing, evidenced by the increase in the supply of such dishes online. In ****, *** different ethnic ready meals were offered on the web, registering an increase of **.*% compared to ****.(***) of *.**%. Ethnic food market World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Fortunebusinessinsights Vegetarian dishes: the trend toward vegetarian ready meals is on the rise, with a particular growth in fresh vegetarian ready meals, which recorded a ** percent increase, reaching a value of ** million euros.(***) Again, growth in the supply of vegetarian ready meals can be attributed to an increase in overall demand for vegetarian food products. If in **** the global market for plant-based food products is worth $**.* billion, by **** this could exceed $** billion, with annual growth of **.*% over the next ** years. Plant-based food products market World, ****-****, in billions of dollars Futuremarketinsights

5.1 The legislation

he market for ready meals, as with many other food products, is regulated by various laws and regulations at both the national and European levels. These laws are concerned with ensuring the quality, food safety and origin of the product. Some of the main laws and regulations for the ready meals market in Italy are

- Regulation ***/**** EC: enshrines the principles and requirements of food law and traceability. - Regulation ***/**** EC: establishes the rules for food hygiene. - Regulation ***/**** EC: sancises the specific hygiene rules for products of animal origin. - Regulation ****/**** EC: establishes microbiological criteria for food products.

These rules express the general characters that the operator must meet in order not to incur penalties, both administrative and criminal.

Legislation regarding the chemical aspect of products includes:

Regulation ****/**** EC: this is related to the **-year authorization of the additive "Monteban" in animal feed, belonging to the group of coccidiostats and other medicinal substances Regulation ****/**** EC: sets maximum levels of certain contaminants in foodstuffs Regulation ***/**** EC: establishes maximum levels of pesticide residues in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin Legislative Decree ***/****: establishes a ban on the use of certain substances with hormonal and thyrostatic action and beta-agonists ...

6.1 Segmentation

Manufacturers

Distributors

• Italpizza
• Dimmidisi (La Linea Verde Società Agricola s.p.a)
• Società Italiana Alimenti s.p.a
• Paren s.r.l
• Conad
• Carrefour Italia
• Lidl