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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).
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
2 Demand analysis
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
3 Market structure
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
4 Supply analysis
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 ...
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 ...
5 Rules and regulations
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 ...
6 Positioning of actors
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
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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
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the ready to eat meals market | Italy
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