Western Europe

2022 saw suppressed demand across Norway’s cooking ingredients and meals industry due to the resumption of the cross-border shopping that was extremely popular among local consumers prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This also adversely…

Organic products came to the fore in several categories within cooking ingredients and meals in 2023. As demand has risen, retailers’ shelves have become increasingly crowded with organic products, with many stores creating specific areas dedicated…

The pandemic strengthened an already growing health and wellness trend within cooking ingredients and meals in Ireland. The HFSS (High Fat, Salt and Sugar) regulations, which were unveiled in December 2021 by the Advertising Standards Authority for…

The ready meals category is not as strong in Greece as in other Western countries due to the fact that Greek households still remain fairly traditional, with families eating primarily home cooked meals instead of buying packaged ready meals. This…

Cooking ingredients and meals in Germany saw several significant developments in 2022, including a growing focus on sustainability, convenience, and health. Sustainability has become an essential factor in the German market, with many consumers…

Overall volume sales of low fat cooking ingredients and meals continued to increase in France in 2022. Buoyant demand reflected rising consumer awareness of the health risks associated with being overweight or obese, a well-established trend that…

Nordic rapeseed oil is benefiting from being seen as a locally sourced superfood, boosting sales of domestic cooking oils. It is noteworthy that, as the global supply of sunflower oil suffered shortages in 2022, Finns increasingly turned to locally…

Environmental and animal welfare care, as well as health concerns, are providing a boost to sales of plant-based, meat free, and vegan cooking ingredients and meals. Organic-focused consumers also often look for foods to enable them to substitute…

Demand for healthy cooking ingredients and ready meals is on the rise in Belgium. Indeed, the Nutri-Score given to products is becoming more important for consumers, who are increasingly buying products with better Nutri-Scores especially concerning…

The prevalence of allergies in Austria has increased demand for gluten free cooking ingredients and meals, while those without gluten intolerances continue to avoid gluten for health benefits. These consumers believe reducing or eliminating gluten…