PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675973
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1675973
Meal kit refers to a service that prepares and delivers customized food ingredients, pre-cooked meals, half-cooked food products, and fresh ingredients to customers to further prepare their meals conveniently. Meal kits are an alternative to grocery shopping as they reduce trips to the grocery store, are affordable in nutrition, time, and cost-saving, and reduce food wastage. These are convenient and offer the opportunity to prepare foods at home in less time.
The main types of meal kits are fresh food and processed food meal kits. The processed food meal kit is prepared by mechanical or chemical operations performed on the food to preserve it for a long time. Meal kits are available in a variety of distribution channels, including hypermarkets and supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty food stores, small grocery stores, online stores, and others, and are divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
The meal kit research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides meal kit statistics, including meal kit industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with meal kit share, detailed meal kit segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the meal kit industry. This meal kit research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.
The meal kit market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $18.04 billion in 2024 to $20.81 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to cultural diversity and culinary exploration, rise of convenience culture, changing lifestyles and work patterns, consumer preference for healthy and fresh meals, market entry by food industry players.
The meal kit market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $41.53 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to data-driven consumer insights, adoption of plant-based and vegan meal kits, convenience and time-saving solutions, expansion of culinary offerings and international cuisine, sustainability and eco-friendly packaging. Major trends in the forecast period include DIY and cooking experience, regional and cultural cuisines, flexible subscription models, tech integration in meal kit services, celebrity and chef collaborations.
The growth of the meal kit market is being propelled by the rise in urbanization and increasingly busy lifestyles. Urbanization refers to the expansion of cities and the growing proportion of the population residing in urban areas. With urbanization on the rise, coupled with increasing per capita income and evolving lifestyles, there is significant potential for chilled meal kits due to their convenience, affordability, and health benefits. For example, in 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 55% of the global population lived in urban areas, a figure expected to rise to 68% by 2050. As a result, urbanization and hectic schedules are key drivers of the meal kit market's growth.
The growing number of working professionals also contributes to the expansion of the meal kit market. Working professionals, individuals employed in careers requiring specialized skills and training, find meal kits especially valuable as they save time while enabling healthy and delicious eating. Meal kits provide pre-portioned ingredients and simple recipes, allowing the preparation of gourmet meals in under 30 minutes. For instance, in January 2024, the World Economic Forum projected a 25% increase in global digital jobs by 2030, reaching over 90 million roles. This rise in working professionals is fueling the demand for meal kits.
Leading companies in the meal kit market are innovating to offer home-cooked meals. These meals, prepared using fresh ingredients in home kitchens, are considered healthier and more personalized than restaurant or store-bought alternatives. For example, in February 2023, Zomato, an India-based food delivery platform, introduced Zomato Everyday. This service delivers budget-friendly, homemade-style meals crafted by real home chefs, starting at just Rs 89, and is currently available in select areas of Gurugram.
Major players in the meal kit industry are launching new products, such as plant-rich meal kits, to improve customer experiences. These kits provide pre-measured ingredients and recipes for meals emphasizing plant-based foods. For instance, in 2023, Ready Pac Produce, Inc., a US-based company specializing in fresh vegetables, salads, and meals, unveiled Bistro Meal Kits. These kits cater to the increasing demand for plant-rich, vegetable-based options, offering fresh vegetables, whole grains, and flavorful sauces for easy home preparation.
In May 2022, Pluckk, a digital fresh food brand in India's fruit and vegetable sector, acquired KOOK for $1.3 million. This acquisition enables Pluckk to deliver a farm-to-table experience across India by combining its commitment to safe, chemical-free products with KOOK's expertise in meal kit production. It positions the company to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities within the meal kit market. KOOK is an India-based food tech startup specializing in meal kits.
Major companies operating in the meal kit market include Ahold Delhaize USA, HelloFresh SE, Daily Harvest Inc., Home Chef LLC, Blue Apron Holdings Inc., Marley Spoon AG, Fresh Direct LLC, Gousto Ltd, Hungryroot Inc., Sun Basket Inc., Green Chef Corporation, Freshly Inc., Sakara Life Inc., Fresh Prep Inc., Trifecta Nutrition, Quitoque, Purple Carrot Inc., Veestro LLC, Gobble Inc., Yumble Kids Inc., Foodstirs Inc., PeachDish LLC, EveryPlate, Just Add Cooking Inc., Relish Labs LLC, The Kroger Co
North America will be the largest region in the meal kit market in 2023. The regions covered in the meal kit market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
The countries covered in the meal kit market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The meal kit market includes revenues earned by entities by sending customers pre-portioned and sometimes partially-prepared food ingredients and recipes to prepare home-cooked meals. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Meal Kit Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on meal kit market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for meal kit ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The meal kit market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the Russia-Ukraine war, rising inflation, higher interest rates, and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.