Ready meals

A growing opportunity and a challenge

 

Ready-made meals consumption is on the rise, driven by a growing consumer trend to create dining occasions at home instead of going out.

With increasing demand for authentic flavours, diverse world cuisines, and real ingredients without additives, NPD) teams face mounting pressure.

Today’s consumers expect not only indulgent and varied options but also clean label, plant-based or hybrid meals options, and sustainability commitments—leaving product developers with a lot on their plate.

ready meals

Main dishes: balancing indulgence and responsibility

Recent years have shown an increased focus on developing premium, traditional, and indulgent meals featuring meat, seafood, and vegetables.

But today’s innovation must also meet the demand for products that are both good for consumers and good for the planet. Clean-label solutions have become a critical differentiator for brands looking to stand out.

Plant-based & hybrid: addressing consumer needs

The plant-based revolution has extended into ready-meals, with NPD teams working on both fully plant-based and hybrid product lines to offer better-for-you meal options.

These products require balanced taste profiles and high sensory appeal without compromising on texture, umami, or clean-label claims.

ready meals

What REDUCED can do for you

Tasty

Real flavours derived from real food                                                                      

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+ Off-flavour masking for plant-based and hybrid products
+ Increased umami
+ Balanced acidity
+ Extended taste length 

Easy

Applications across meat, seafood, and plant-based

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+ Easy-to-use solutions designed for time efficiency
+ Wide range of applications across meat, seafood, and vegan-friendly subcategories
+ Support in meat reduction initiatives for hybrid products
+ Specialised plant-based taste boosters

Clean

100% real food with 0% additives                                                                                

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+ 100% real food with 0% additives
+ Organic options for premium positioning
+ Allergen-free solutions
+ Proven reductions in GHG emissions
+ Made from upcycled ingredients
+ Reduction in food loss through our upcycling processes
+ Clean and natural labelling options to meet evolving regulations

REDUCED provides a wide range of taste solutions that help ready-meal developers deliver on consumer expectations for taste, clean label, and sustainability. We understand the challenges NPD teams face, from achieving flavour balance to masking off-notes, enhancing umami, and meeting sustainability claims. Our solutions make it easier to innovate while staying competitive.

Inspiration

butter chicken

Butter no chicken

+ umami boost
+ plant-based
+ off-flavour masking
+ increased taste length
recipe
Risotto round

Mushroom risotto

+ umami boost
+ vegan
+ extended taste length
+ natural
recipe

download the application handbook +