#1 | More Than Convenience: The New Value of Ready Meals in Latin America
- MANE LATAM FLAVORS
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
According to Euromonitor, changes in consumer behavior and increasingly accelerated routines intensify the search for practicality and time optimization, driving the demand for convenient and affordable solutions. Therefore, ready-to-eat food is no longer just a practical alternative and starts to represent a relevant strategic opportunity at the current moment, meeting the growing need for practicality in everyday life.
From Need to Desire: What's Behind Choosing Ready Meals
Convenience and time savings.
For many consumers, the convenience of preparing a meal in a few minutes is the main motivator. Frozen ready meals require minimal preparation, adjusting to the busy lifestyle, with little time to cook from scratch — especially in families with double jobs, intense hours or remote work.
Source: Innova Market
Modern lifestyles and home engagement.
Behavioral changes — such as more meals at home and greater use of convenient foods — have consumers looking for products that align convenience with perceived quality. This movement is associated with the search for balance between work, leisure, and well-being.
Source: Innova Market
Quality, flavor and sensory variety.
In addition to convenience, consumers value interesting flavors, culinary variety and attractive sensory profile in ready meals, reasons that convert functional choice into a desired experience, this directly connects need × desire, because it is no longer just "eating fast", but "wanting a flavor that is worth it".
Source: Mintel
Preference for nutritious and health-aligned options.
Although ready-made recipes are not always associated with health, there is a clear trend of consumers looking for healthier frozen alternatives with a better nutritional profile, plant-based, clean label or diet-specific options.
Source: Coherentmarketinsights
Ready Meals in LATAM: Accelerated Growth
LATAM
US$ 2,1 BI
CAGR 9% (2020-2025)
SOURCE: EUROMONITOR
BRAZIL
US$ 1,2B
CAGR 10% (2020-2025)
SOURCE: EUROMONITOR
MEXICO
US$ 633M
CAGR 9% (2020-2025)
SOURCE: EUROMONITOR
ARGENTINA, CHILE & COLOMBIA
US$ 115M
CAGR 2.8% (2020-2025)
SOURCE: EUROMONITOR
Frozen ready meals are already the largest product area and, along with frozen pizzas, are expected to add the largest share of growth in the coming years.
READY MEALS: Key Trends Driving Growth and Innovation (LATAM)
High Protein & Performance
Lines such as Seara PROTEIN show the shift toward bringing ready-to-eat meals closer to categories such as fitness/performance, with a focus on high-protein content, calorie control, and functional claims (collagen, vitamins, etc.).
SOURCE: SEARA.COM
Plant-based, low-fat & "better for you".
The plant-based frozen meals market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for convenient, healthy, and sustainable food options. The growing popularity of veganism and vegetarianism, along with increased awareness of the environmental impact of meat consumption, are significant catalysts.
SOURCE: DATAINSIGHTS
Regionalism & emotional comfort.
Euromonitor reinforces the importance of local authenticity in food in Latin America: dishes that reference traditional homemade recipes (lasagna, escondidinho, stroganoff, beans, fish dishes, etc.) are gaining traction in ready-made formats.
SOURCE: EUROMONITOR
Premiumization & "restaurant at home".
The presence of renowned chefs in ready meals, as in the partnership between Sapore and Alex Atala, strengthens the category by raising the perception of quality and sophistication of ready-to-eat products. By incorporating haute cuisine techniques into frozen dishes, these chefs transform convenience into experience, adding value, differentiation, and premium appeal to the category.
SOURCE: CONSUMIDORMODERNO
Single-serve formats, smaller portions and segmentation by occasion.
The global trend of smaller homes, soils and couples without children favors individual packages, single-portion trays and combos designed for lunchboxes, quick lunches or late-night snacks.
SOURCE: El País+1
"Air-fryer-ready": the convergence between convenience and healthier preparation.
Market studies indicate that the ready-to-air-fryer frozen food segment is growing rapidly: from around USD 13.2 billion in 2024, forecast to grow to around USD 26-29 billion by 2033 with a strong annual rate (CAGR ~8%+) thanks to the increased penetration of air fryers and demand for easy meals.
SOURCE: GROWTHMARKETREPORTS
HOW DO THESE TRENDS MATERIALISE FOR THE CONSUMER?
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Seara | Brazil According to Seara (seara.com), the growing popularity of air fryers in Brazil has raised the bar for frozen foods, driving demand for crispier textures and oil-free flavors, especially in categories such as breaded chicken, beef, snacks, and side dishes. | Knorr | Brazil Knorr (Unilever) is expanding its product line with the launch of Prato Fino + Knorr Express Creamy Rice, in partnership with Prato Fino Alimentos. Available in 80-gram packages in the flavors Panela Beef and Free-Range Chicken, the product combines convenience with home-style flavor, ready in five minutes in the microwave, and reinforces the brand’s commitment to quality and convenience. | LivUp | Brazil Liv Up is a Brazilian food tech company specializing in healthy frozen meals, combining home-cooked food with convenience, using natural ingredients, no artificial preservatives, and recipes developed by chefs and nutritionists. |
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Nestlé | Colombia Every great dish starts with a solid foundation. Enhance the flavor of your recipes with the new MAGGI® Vegetable Stock, a convenient and delicious solution that takes your menu to the next level. | Nutresa | Colombia Eating a balanced diet has never been so delicious: discover Pietrán’s new Chicken and Mushroom Burger, ready in minutes. | Quala | Colombia Instant noodle soup, chicken flavor and rib flavor. |
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Maggi | México New Maggi® crispy seasonings for air fryers—Sweet Chipotle, Lemon, and Teriyaki—designed to enhance the flavor of your dishes, especially when prepared in an air fryer. | Grillers | México Grillers products deliver intense flavors: the Spicy Orange wings combine a tangy citrus kick, Dinamita offers an explosive flavor for spice lovers, while Sirloin offers a more classic profile with sirloin-style meat. | El Gallo Giro | México El Gallo Giro products are designed to be convenient and quick to serve without sacrificing that homemade flavor. Barbecue and cochinita flavors. |
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De la Casa | Chile De la Casa brings gourmet dishes to your table, ready to serve. Homemade food without the trial and error. A Chilean brand available at the country’s largest supermarkets. | PF | Chile The well-known Chilean brand PF, which produces cured meat products, offers ready-to-eat meal options under the PF Listo brand. | IANSA | Chile IANSA is a leading sugar producer in Chile that offers ready-to-eat meals under the LISTO YA! brand, featuring a variety of prepared dishes. |
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Gallo | Argentina Gallo Risotto is a creamy dish inspired by signature cuisine that’s ready in just 15 minutes and always delivers the perfect texture and rich flavor. Available in Four Cheese, Spanish Style, and Spring varieties, it’s a convenient and delicious way to elevate any meal. | Cuisine & Co | Argentina Cuisine & Co Lentil Stew (250 g) is a hearty blend of lentils, rice, and vegetables, seasoned to deliver a rich, comforting flavor. A convenient option that puts a modern spin on a traditional home-style classic. | Dos Anclas | Argentina Dos Anclas ready-to-eat meals feature three Argentine classics: Locro Criollo, Lentil Stew, and Cazuela Norteña. Made using traditional recipes and ready in just three simple steps: heat, serve, and enjoy. Authentic, home-style flavor, now in a convenient format. |
Growth Strategies for Brands
• Own sensory signature: Exclusive aromatic profiles with encapsulation and thermal stability, ensuring consistent impact in microwaves, ovens and air fryers.
• Technological performance: Optimised formulations for different equipment, preserving texture, juiciness and flavor intensity.
• Premium + clean label: Natural and recognisable ingredients combined with a narrative of quality and transparency.
• Convenience with culinary quality: Chef-driven recipes with technology that maintains freshly prepared flavor after freezing.
• Segmentation by occasion: Lines adapted to different moments of consumption, with aromatic profiles aligned with the brand's positioning.
Take Your Ready Meals to a New Level.
At MANE, we closely monitor advancements in production processes, equipment, and technologies. We develop flavors and solutions that retain their intensity, freshness, and impact even after freezing and reheating. We combine science, creativity, and technical expertise to support R&D challenges and drive differentiation. Contact us so that, together, we can take your products to a new level of flavor and technology.
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