The US, UK and Sweden have the most developed meal solutions markets.
Frozen ready meals is the largest single category, while chilled has had a major impact in the UK.
In the US, retail and foodservice solution providers are in direct competition.In the face of lifestyle pressures such as longer working hours, consumers are looking to outsource more household tasks such as food preparation and shopping.
Meal solutions provide a speedier alternative to full cooking and free up time for consumers to spend on other leisure activities, as responsibility for home management becomes more fragmented.Meal solutions have undergone a series of changes since first generation TV dinners.
Consumer taste and quality expectations are becoming more sophisticated, due to rising international travel, the celebrity chef and the foodservice experience.
Manufacturers and retailers have responded by driving the indulgence qualities of meal solutions, with recent product innovation focusing on flavours.
However, traditional boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred as retail, foodservice and the Internet compete head on for "share of stomach" in the home.Growth Strategies in Meal Solutions looks at the shifting boundaries of the in-home meal solution occasion.
While the trend towards eating out remains strong, more consumers are looking to the home as the new arena in which they can relax and enjoy sensory experiences such as eating.