Ready, set, nourish

Photo by Donna Ahern

With the rising demand for nutritious, convenient meals, retailers have a prime opportunity to spotlight healthy ready meal options that cater to diverse dietary needs and health-conscious consumers, says Shauna Bernard

Brand Central

18 September 2024

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As more consumers seek convenient meal options that align with their dietary preferences whether vegetarian, high-protein, gluten-free, or geared towards weight management, there’s never been a better time for retailers to highlight their healthy ready meal products.

Today’s shoppers are increasingly interested in ready meals that not only simplify their lives but also meet their health and wellness goals.

According to a recent report by Statista, ‘Ready-to-Eat Meals’ market in Ireland is projected to reach about €480 million by 2029.

Consumers prioritise convenience without sacrificing nutritional value, looking for options that support their dietary choices and make meal preparation effortless.

“Continued inflation has put more pressure on consumer spending, and has seen consumers avoid more pricey foodservice outlets,” said Brian O’Connor, senior Consumer Analyst, in Mintel’s recent Ireland Prepared Meals Market Report 2023.

“This in turn has helped to drive more consumers to use prepared meals at home. Prepared meals that can effectively re-create the restaurant experience are likely to hold strong appeal.”

By retailers focusing on quality and variety in their ready meal offerings, they can effectively tap into this expanding market and meet the needs of today’s health-conscious consumers.

Now is the time for retailers to position their products as the go-to choice for those seeking both convenience and nutritional healthy ready meals.

Fit flavours

A selection of Fit Foods high protein meals

DMC Foods traces its roots back to Dublin in 1946 when the O’Leary family opened a butcher shop, laying the foundation for what would become a leading name in the Irish food industry. The transition from a small butcher shop came in 2010 when master Butcher Paddy O’Leary and his son David opened the first factory outlet butcher shop in Ireland under the Dublin Meat Company name.

By staying committed to quality and value, the O’Leary family successfully established DMC Foods, which has since evolved to include a range of innovative products beyond its original meat offerings.

Fit Foods origin

The launch of the Fit Foods brand in 2014 was a direct response to changing consumer behaviours, with an increasing demand for quick, healthier meal options.

The O’Leary family identified a gap in the market for convenient, nutritious meals that did not compromise on taste or quality. Initially focused on providing healthy ready meals, Fit Foods has since expanded to offer a diverse product range, including gut-friendly yoghourts, high-protein puddings, and a cook-at-home high-protein range.

Brand growth

Fit Foods’ significant milestones include its launch into mainstream retail in 2020, quickly becoming Ireland’s number one branded ready meal. The expansion into mainland Europe in 2023 further cemented its position as a leading brand. Fit Foods has distinguished itself in the market by emphasising health, convenience, and taste, enabling it to stand out from competitors and maintain its leadership in the ready meal sector.

Fit Foods now commands a significant share of the Irish ready meal market, with one in five ready meals in Ireland produced in their BRC AA+ certified facility.

Factory focus

The DMC Foods factory in Monaghan is a cornerstone of DMC Foods’ success, playing a crucial role as a major local employer and ensuring that products are manufactured to the highest standards.

Achieving the BRC AA grade certification reflects the company’s dedication to quality, helping establish Fit Foods as Ireland’s number one ready meal brand and a preferred private label manufacturer for major retailers.

DMC Foods and the Fit Foods brand have ambitious plans, including expanding their product range and further international market penetration.

Gut boosters

POWERSOUPS range

PUREPOWER has a new game changing soup range that delivers all the nutrients your body needs as well as key ingredients to aid gut microbiomes that can support overall health.

Detailed gut research has proven that up to 80% of our immunity resides in the gut, so its new range of POWER Soups deliver ingredients and nutrients.

POWERSOUPS

Protein packed

Low fat

Low sugar

Low calorie

High fibre

Two of your five a day

Packed with vitamins

Packed with minerals

Immunity + Chicken & Vegetable Soup

A healthy outside starts on the inside. The gut microbiome is the body’s superpower. This massive ecosystem of trillions of microbes helps fight bad bacteria & toxins. PUREPOWER’s soup has key ingredients and nutrients that aid and promote a healthy gut.

Digestion + Tomato & Herb Soup

The digestive system has its own nervous system which is sensitive to emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness & elation. Terms like ‘hangry’, ‘gut feeling’ & ‘butterflies’ are coming from the gut, not the brain giving emotional signals. The key ingredients in this soup aids gut health.

Replenish + Vegetable Soup

PUREPOWER’s vegetable packed soup supports the trillions of bacteria in the gut by replenishing nutrients and vitamins.

Nourish + Super Green Soup

PUREPOWER’s Super Green Soup is packed with broccoli, peas, mint & spinach that are packed with fibre, folate, Vitamins A, C & K, aiding the growth of healthy gut bacteria and overall good health.

POWERSOUPS are available to order to all retailers, contact: sales@purepowernutrition.com or call (01) 413 3758

Convenient nutrition

Pictured (L-R) SuperValu and Centra managing director Luke Hanlon with co-founders of Clean Cut Meals, Michael Dyer and Conor McCallion along with Jerh O’Sullivan, head of Strategic Initiatives SuperValu and Centra

SuperValu has expanded its convenience meal offering with the acquisition of Clean Cut Meals.

Its high quality meal range will further enhance the healthy meals offering available to SuperValu customers, in what is a rapidly growing category of the market.

Established in 2015, Clean Cut Meals is a leading healthy ready meal production company based in Galway.

The firm is renowned for its commitment to nutritious and convenient high-quality meals and snacks, specialising in a range of products that cater to consumers that seek out healthier choices.  

The business offers a range of meal plans including breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options. Its menu changes to keep the range as fresh as possible.

“Customers are increasingly seeking healthy, tasty and convenient meal offerings, and we have invested heavily in developing our market-leading offering in this category,” said Luke Hanlon, managing director, SuperValu and Centra.

Clean Cut Meals currently operates from a production kitchen facility in Galway and employs 20 staff. The company currently prepares thousands of meal solutions each week which is expected to grow significantly with access to SuperValu & Centra’s nationwide retail network. 

Plant-powered pots

Thanks Plants variety of meal pots

Irish brand Thanks Plants are launching a new range of meal pots this coming Autumn.  The meal pots are a departure from its current ‘meatless meat’ products which stand out for wholesome ingredients. 

 “I often make curries and stews from scratch at home”, says Thanks Plants founder, Aisling Cullen. “I started bringing in my own stews to work and I thought it was worth looking into developing them further as I loved them so much as a healthy and quick lunch option.”

“It was key for us to develop these with more than 20g of protein per pot, to ensure our customers would get a good, filling lunch. We soak the beans as opposed to using tinned beans which gives a nice bite to them and also retains their protein.”

There are three flavours, a Cauliflower and Coconut Dal, Hearty Italian Kale and Bean Stew and a Thai Yellow Curry.  It takes four minutes in the microwave to heat.

Cullen thinks the pots could do really well located beside sandwiches in the grab and go section of a supermarket or local grocery store.  

Thanks Plants prides its recipes on good wholefood kitchen ingredients, with no nasties or artificial ingredients that other companies might use. 

“We’re very conscious that some people think plant-based products can be highly processed, so when coming up with the recipes I only put in ingredients that I would be happy to serve to my own family,” says Cullen.  

Thanks Plants will launch the meal pots in October 2024. Other products in the Thanks Plants range include flavoured sausages, Frankfurters, NoMoooo Burgers and the Everyday Roast. 

Healthy meets tasty

Unislim’s range of Good Food Fast meals

Unislim celebrate crafting great tasting, healthy, delicious food for everyone.

It currently has two incredible gluten-free, vegan-friendly products on the market: Unislim Rustic-Cut Chips & deliciously Skinny Sweet Potato Fries and in October it is launching the fabulous Unislim Crispy Skinny Chips.

Created by Unislim’s top food experts, these products are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, low in saturated fat, contain no artificial colours, preservatives or flavourings and have been approved by Ireland’s top dieticians.  

Unislim’s frozen ready meal range is made up of four mouth-watering, flavour-filled, delicious recipes, Green Thai Chicken Curry, Mango Chicken Curry, Spicy Chickpea Curry & the newest addition, launching in October, Chicken Tikka Masala.

High in protein but low in calories and fat, it makes mealtimes quick & convenient, because sometimes consumers need Good Food Fast.

Unislim’s product range is promoted through an integrated approach, utilising both above-the-line and below-the-line marketing, with social media playing a key role in amplifying its brand message and connecting with its audience

Unislim is a family run, Irish owned company since 1972.  Its goal is to offer healthy, delicious, wholesome & great-tasting options for everyone who’s interested in healthy eating.

Unislim offers members a personalised and effective weight loss plan, which encourages followers to make healthier food choices.

With a network of 240+ supportive weekly classes all across Ireland, check out store.unislim.com for more information.  

Read more: Healthy heroes

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