Name: the ready to eat meals market
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Summary

The global ready-to-eat meals market has exhibited significant growth since 2020, with a rising consumer preference for convenience and quality. In 2023, the global market valuation reached $383.93 billion and is anticipated to surpass $488 billion by 2028 with a CAGR of 5%. The European market forms a considerable segment of this industry; in 2023, it was valued at $85.65 billion and it's expected to exceed $100 billion by 2028.

Italian Market Demand for Ready-to-Eat Meals: A Deep Dive into Preferences and Trends

In the ever-evolving landscape of Italy's consumer packaged goods industry, ready-to-eat meals are not only one of the largest segments but are also one of the most dynamically changing ones. This is clearly reflected in the substantial growth of sales within the large-scale retail sector, rising by an impressive 45.7% from 2017 to 2022, an indication of the increasing reliance on the convenience that these meals provide. Particularly between 2020 and 2021, the sector witnessed a remarkable spike in sales by over 20%, which accounts for almost half of the growth observed over the five years. It's interesting to note that while consumers in Italy have been showing a significant preference for ethnic ready meals, oriental dishes are leading the demand at 51% of the market. African and Mexican cuisines follow suit with 23% and approximately 14-15% respectively. It's the younger demographic that's primarily driving this trend, showcasing a curiosity and global palate that's eager to explore a diverse range of culinary flavors. Another crucial aspect steering demand is the emphasis on quality. Italian consumers have been leaning towards ready meals that guarantee not just appetizing taste profiles but also deliver on health benefits.

There is a growing appreciation for high-quality ingredients, particularly those that are locally or regionally sourced. Sustainability in production and packaging, along with dietary considerations such as organic, "free from," functional, and natural choices, have influenced the introduction of a myriad of products in the market. With the convenience of a meal that's quick to prepare, these offerings are often described as the bridge between fast food and home cooking. Consumers have been leaning particularly towards offerings such as fresh and frozen varieties, which have seen substantial volume growth in recent years. Despite this rise in consumer demand, it's interesting to note that the turnover of Italian companies producing only ready-to-eat meals has been on a decline by about 2-3%. This indicates a growing dominance of larger Italian and foreign agribusiness companies within this market segment. Demand trends in Italy also reflect an increased interest in healthy eating. This is evidenced by a growing attentive towards products with balanced nutritional content and single-serving options that help manage portions. Such trends indicate a market that is not only expanding but also evolving with consumer preferences that prioritize convenience, quality, and health.

Key Players Shaping the Italian Ready-to-eat Meals Market

The Italian market for ready-to-eat meals is a vibrant industry, with a variety of players contributing to its growth and innovation. These companies, ranging from manufacturing giants to retail leaders, each hold significant influence in the ready-to-eat sector. Their contributions have shaped the tastes and preferences of Italian consumers, and their commitment to quality reinforces Italy's reputation for fine dining, even in the convenience market.

Italpizza S.p.A: A standout in the art of frozen pizza, Italpizza has earned its place among the top ranks by mastering the blend of artisanal tradition and large-scale production. Since its foundation in 1991, the company has embraced an approach that emphasizes the Italian pizza experience, combining slow leavening dough, manual crafting, and wood oven baking, catering to both the domestic and international markets.
Piatti Freschi Italia S.p.A: A joint venture brought to life by Fleury Michon and Fratelli Beretta, Piatti Freschi Italia exemplifies the fusion of French and Italian culinary mastery. Ensconced in the fresh ready meals and snacks niche, their 2017 acquisition of SGI- Sapori e Gusto Italiani srl further expanded their gastronomic horizons, adding seafood and fresh pasta to their already rich portfolio.
Paren S.r.l: Integrated into the Rolli Industre Group, Paren specializes in a plethora of frozen delicacies. Whether it's ready meals or pizzas, this Noceto-based enterprise has carved out its space in both domestic and foreign markets, backed by a firm commitment to quality standards and safety accreditations.
Società Italiana Alimenti S.p.A: Boasting more than half a century in the agri-food sector, this enterprise prides itself on its vast, state-of-the-art infrastructure that allows it to innovate in the provision of ready meals across Italy. With specialized lines for food service professionals, this company transcends the regular B2C model, presenting solutions for the professional kitchen as well.
La Linea Verde Società Agricola S.p.A (Dimmidisi): As an entity that stands at the forefront of the fresh ready-to-eat market, Dimmidisi enriches the Italian food landscape with a spectrum of fresh, nutritious, and convenient food selections that speak directly to the hearts of health-conscious and time-strapped Italians.

the ready to eat meals market - Italy

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Number of pages : 30 pages
Format : Digital and PDF versions
Last update : 03/11/2023

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Summary and extracts

1 Market summary

1.1 Definition and presentation

Ready-to-eat meals are defined as those dishes that do not require any preparation to be consumed, or whose preparation requires minimal time. They can be found in different formats: canned, packaged, vacuum-packed or frozen. They are distributed in mass or specialty stores and allow people to eat in a short time, avoiding cooking time concerns.

Currently, the market is expanding, with quantitative and qualitative diversification of recipes-and the ingredients used-to satisfy new market segments that focus on quality requirements. The production chain also tends to be more complex, with distributors beginning to produce their own products and with innovative companies emerging in the industry in an effort to dislodge the established hierarchy.

The global market is booming. I ready meals are attractive because they offer a quick and convenient way to consume food, while they are also seen as more attractive due to the relative freshness of ingredients compared to, for example, frozen foods. In 2023, the global market for ready-to-eat meals is estimated at $383.93 billion and is expected to reach and exceed $488 billion by 2028 thanks to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5%.

The European segment of the market is one of the most important. In 2023, the market on this continent reached a total value of $85.65 billion and is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2028.

In Italy, the market for ready meals, both fresh and frozen, has seen volume growth in recent years, dictated by their convenience and their new healthy connotations (e.g., organic, low-salt, fat-free or palm oil-free). However, in the face of a 45.7% growth in the value of large-scale retail sales, the turnover of Italian companies producing only ready-to-eat meals has been declining in recent years (-2.9%). This indicates an increasingly important presence of large Italian and foreign agribusiness companies (Knor, Frosta, Bonduelle).

2 Demand analysis

3 Market structure

4 Supply analysis

5 Rules and regulations

6 Positioning of actors

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Latest news

Italpizza acquires from Nestlé the plant in Caudry, France, where the Buitoni-branded Fraich'up frozen pizza was produced - 06/02/2024

**Founded**: 1991
**Location**: Modena, Italy
**Ownership**: Controlled by Cristian Pederzini through the holding company Dream Foods srl.
**Recent Acquisitions**:
- Pizza Artesana Malgrat (Oct. 17, 2022)
- Mantua Surgelati (2022)
- Antico Forno a Legna (November 2020)
- Caudry Plant, France (from Nestlé Group, date not specified)
**Investments**:
- Issuance of a €20 million minibond in March 2021, underwritten by Unicredit and 70% guaranteed by Sace
- Investment of more than €12 million for the modernization of the Caudry plant (2024-2028)
- Investment of about €5 million in the Antico Forno a Legna plant
**Turnover**: - Nearly 400 million euros, with 60% coming from foreign markets
Details 2022:
- nearly 200 million euros, with 60% from foreign markets in 54 countries
- **EBITDA** (2022): 8.3 million euros
- **Net financial debt** (2022): 16.7 million euros
- **Operating data**: - More than 1,700 employees - Annual production capacity of 435 million pizzas
Industrial presence in Europe with 6 plants supplying customers in 60 countries
Target of hiring about 140 employees by 2028 for the Caudry plant
**Strategies and objectives**: - Internationalization and strengthening of industrial presence in Europe, especially in Northern Europe and the United Kingdom - Reduction of logistics costs and rationalization of production to increase production capacity

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Italpizza

Dimmidisi (La Linea Verde Società Agricola s.p.a)

Società Italiana Alimenti s.p.a

Paren s.r.l

Conad

Carrefour Italia

Lidl

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