Global Diet Meal Market - 2024-2031

Overview

Global Diet Meal Market reached US$ 155.68 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 341.52 billion by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 10.32% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

The global diet meals market is growing rapidly as there is a shift in consumer preference towards convenient health-focused meals. This is because a growing number of consumers recognize the importance of nutrition in availing healthcare services without falling ill in the first place, hence, the appeal for skinny meals, which are low in calories, low in carbohydrates but with healthy proteins.

Furthermore, policies such as the USFDA, EFSA and others which are promoting standards of food quality control and improving food safety and disclosure of nutritional information are fueling the market demand. The policy guidelines assist in averting the situation where it offers diet meal products that are unconfirmed to the accepted diet standards and nutritional requirements, hence enhancing the confidence of the buyers and aiding the growth of the market.

The growing diet meals market in Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest growing markets due to the high urbanization rate, rising disposable income and growing health consciousness of the massive population. The government of China has been promoting a healthy diet among its citizens by 2030 in a bid to control obesity which is on the rise among other foods, creating a market for low-calorie meals which is a balanced diet. In India, where diabetes and heart ailments are all on the increase, the demand for diet-specific foods has also increased due to government policies such as the National Health Mission (NHM), which addresses treatment through diet rather than after the illness occurs.

Dynamics

Technological Advancements and Changing Consumer Preferences

Progress in food preservation techniques especially in the processing and packaging of ready-to-eat meals is a major factor driving the diet meals market. For instance, innovations such as foam-freezing and vacuum-sealing, enabled the production of preservative-free meals and the rapid revival of the same meals to provide convenience and health to consumers. In addition, mobile applications and websites offer consumers tailored diet programs and diet meal delivery services, making it easier for people to achieve their healthy targets.

The changing consumer attitude towards the use of non-synthetic ingredients further drives the market growth. This leads to a higher inclination for meals devoid of substances such as artificial additives preservatives and added sugars as well. Citing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the world is experiencing a clean-label food trend which has increased the cravings for such rather than processed diet meals.

Rising Healthcare Costs and Government Support

The continuous growth of healthcare costs worldwide has triggered consumers to spend more on preventive health care measures such as diet-based meal programs which assist in leading a healthy life and prevention of chronic conditions. For instance, rankings by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicate that US health care spending grew 4.1% to reach US$ 4.5 trillion in 2022, faster than the increase of 3.2% in 2021, but much slower than the rate of 10.6% in 2020.

Due to the increasing health care cost, many consumers are turning to diet meals to prevent incurring exorbitant medical bills that arise as a result of unhealthy feeding practices and lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, many of the countries contend with the challenge of obesity have put in place measures to facilitate the expansion of diet meals market through effective nutritional education policies and healthier eating initiatives.

For instance, in UK, the National Health Service (NHS) associates itself with campaigns such as Better Health, which is aimed at promoting better eating habits among the population and echos the business of diet meal providers. Similar to this is the Farm to Fork Strategy where the European Commission is in charge of developing a resilient food system to tackle diets and obesity and therefore further increasing the availability of diet meals.

Workforce Shortages and Supply Chain Challenges

The lack of people working in the food service industry and the inflation of the supply chain hamper the global diet meal market. The unemployment in this sector has made it impossible to satisfy US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expectations that by 2030, employment in food preparation and serving-related occupations will have risen by 12%. As a result, the range of food products including diet meals has suffered delays in production and distribution.

The ongoing geo-political events such as war and pandemics are an upsurge in the availibility of materials like cereals, greens and meats. Thus, this war has played a significant role in creating a lack of some food products and increased prices for the available ones, especially in the production of diet meals. This situation has created barriers in terms of supply and pricing of diet meals in most of the countries in Europe where there is a high dependence on imported diet ingredients.

Segment Analysis

The global diet meal market is segmented based on product, type, packaging, distribution channel and region.

High Demand for Carel-Based Food

The rising prevalence of health issues such as obesity and diabetes across the globe has led to a gradual increase in the need for these dietary packages to be low-calorie yet filled with protein-filled foods. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2022, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were considered to be overweight, one of them being over 890 million adults who were obese and this also adds to the context of the diet meals. Mounsey and Barnsley (2021) observe that in addition to general weight loss programs, specific meals such as carel based meal plans are gaining more preference.

Whole grain-based foods, as well as protein blend even fortifies those foods, are gaining acceptance among health seekers. Most of these meals are also centered around other ingredients such as whole maize, lentils and millet which not only help to achieve the desired dietary requirements but also help to enrich the protein content of the meal. With an increased awareness of health complications emanating from obesity and diabetes, the market for high-protein cereals and cereal-based meals has changed significantly.

Geographical Penetration

High Prevalence of Lifestyle Diseases and Strong Consumer Awareness in North America

The North America region holds a substantial share of the diet meals market, given the high incidences of lifestyle diseases coupled with the consumer's high regard for wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost about 42% of the adult population in the United States is either overweight or obese, proving that there is a need for food that is designed for overweight and obese populations. Such approaches equally have their focus in an advanced US food processing economy where appropriate foods designed in various dietary interventions are readily available.

Similarly, governmental policies also encourage the consumption of dietary-specific food items. Healthier diets have been promoted by the dietary guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which thereby encourages the use of these meal types. Furthermore, this demand can also be attributed to the controlled diet meal delivery services offered in the market which is ideal for busy consumers who are health conscious. These services enable a healthy diet without having to spend excess time in cooking healthy meals.

Competitive Landscape

The major global players in the market include Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., Herbalife Ltd., Nutrisystem Ltd., Kellogg Company, Olympus Corporation, Weight Watchers International, Jenny Craig, The Gold's Gym International, 3 CAD Hospitality LLP and HAPPY OJO LIFESTYLE PRIVATE LIMITED.

Sustainability Analysis

Sustainability is increasingly influencing the global diet meals market, as companies prioritize eco-friendly ingredients and biodegradable packaging. The Global Sustainability Council for Food and Agriculture Council notes that the diet meals sector can also help achieve environmental objectives when sourcing mainly plant- and fungi-derived products which are usually less carbon-intensive than animal-sourced. This shift aligns with a growing consumer demand for environmentally-conscious products, prompting businesses to adopt sustainable practices actively.

In addition to this, diet meals that make use of seasonal produce help in addition to bringing down the carbon footprint associated with the transportation of goods. As the level of consciousness towards the environment increases, the movement directed towards the adoption of sustainable practices in the diet meals industry is likely to continue. It is not only that consumers' preferences are being catered to but also active measures are being undertaken to improve sustainability.

Russia-Ukraine War Impact

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has severely disrupted the global food supply chain leading to an increase in costs of raw materials and hence the prices of diet meals. Ukraine is among the countries that are known for agricultural production and export, the war has disrupted the country's grain exports for a long time. Before the war, most of the world's wheat and sunflower oil came from Ukraine.

Nonetheless, the ports located along the Black Sea have been under siege, coupled with the hostilities, these exports have come almost to a standstill causing shortages which have caused an increase in prices at all levels of supply. This scenario has also posed problems to some sectors including the diet meal, especially in areas where most of their raw materials are sourced from these imports. Due to the increased price of the ingredients, the players in the sector have found it difficult to price their diet meals competitively. The effects of the war have impacted food distribution chains but also aided in inflation in many nations.

By Product

• Beverages
• Supplements
• Snacks
• Others

By Type

• Vegetable-Based
• Cereal Based
• Meat/Poultry
• Other

By Packaging

• Canned
• Retort
• Others

By Distribution Channel

• Hypermarket and Supermarket
• Specialty Stores
• Convenience Stores
• Online

By Region

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

• In March 2023, Nestle made a strategic investment in Munich-based YFood, a start-up specializing in meal replacements. YFood offers a range of products, including meal-replacement drinks, powders and snack bars aimed at consumers looking for easy, balanced nutrition on the go.
• In September 2022, You Go! Foods introduced its Keto Tortilla Chips to cater to the growing keto diet trend, providing a low-carb option for consumers adhering to ketogenic or low-carbohydrate eating patterns.
• In August 2022, Amcor acquired a high-capacity flexible packaging plant in the Czech Republic, which is expected to strengthen its production and supply capabilities across Europe. Flexible packaging is particularly important in the diet meal market, where companies seek innovative, sustainable packaging solutions.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global diet meal market segmentation based on product, type, packaging, distribution channel and region.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points at the diet meal market level for all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global diet meal market report would provide approximately 70 tables, 65 figures and 201 pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies