Top Five Trends in Cooking Ingredients and Meals

February 2025

Cooking ingredients and meals posted a moderate 2.2% in 2025. The market slowed compared to the thriving period 2021-2022 when convenient solutions and the growing home cooking trend laid the ground for innovation and experimentation. New launches have subsided due to high inflation and disturbed global supply chains; however, consumers’ desire for novel products has remained. Products suited to various dietary, lifestyle and health needs have continued to see demand despite tighter budgets.

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Key Findings

Plant-forward recipes in the spotlight

Meat reduction trends create a need for recipes that focus on a higher ratio of vegetables, fruits, legumes or wholegrains. There is potential for growth for plant-based products outside of vegan and vegetarian communities.

Better diet motivation

Consumers seek out products that help them improve their diets. Universally, consumers see room for improvement in their diet. However, desired health features vary depending on the socioeconomic situation in the region.

Finding comfort with limited budget

Familiar food tastes create comfort among shoppers and even during cost-of-living crisis they want to enjoy similar recipes. Finding a solution where flavour is combined with lower cost can help generate sales in volume terms and retain the consumer base.

Consumers still seek indulgence

Despite price pressures, consumers still want to enjoy food; thus, an intense flavour profile, the addition of spices, or luxury mix-ins attract shoppers. Social media plays an important role too, shaping what recipes consumers are keen to try out or what cuisines are going viral.

Sustainability is desired but complex

A long list of sustainability claims are often confusing for consumers to navigate. Numerous greenwashing scandals associated with various claims do not help the situation. Simplifying the approach to claims helps build trust with shoppers. Understandable and verifiable claims work best and help build a stronger relationship between brand and buyer.

Our expert’s view of Cooking Ingredients and Meals in 2024
Key findings
Consumers attracted to products featuring a mix of health and new flavours
Top five trends in Cooking Ingredients and Meals
Top five trends uncovered (1)
More consumers are trying to eat less meat and reduce animal product intake
Felix Bowls – frozen vegetarian ready meals with 50% vegetables
Plant-based producer Heura partners with Spanish retailer Ametller Origen
Growth opportunities lie outside of vegan consumer base
Dietary needs are varied globally giving ample room for health-focused innovation
Beauvais launches ketchup without added sugar and low salt in Denmark
Knorrox introduces fortified stock cubes tackling malnutrition in South Africa
Healthier recipes create opportunities for innovation in various price ranges
The need to save persists with volume deals or discounts losing some appeal
Pirkka Vegemakaronilaatikko, a private label vegan chilled macaroni casserole
Ohlio new edible oil blends deliver familiar taste but at a lower cost
Households continue to carefully budget their expenditure on non-essential items
Taste is one of the main motivators when trying out new products
Holland & Barrett launches taste-boosting range
New player enters Colombian market, Ay Maria!, offering exciting artisan flavours
Bringing new experiences through flavour creates opportunities for brands
Sustainable product launches can be challenging but growth comes from simplifying
REDUCED introduces liquid products from upcycling food that would go to waste
Istinskimed.bg platform focusing on honey quality and sustainable sourcing
Approachable sustainable actions can help achieve success among consumers
Future implications
Top five trends uncovered (2)
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