Pre-cooked meals: A trillion-dollar market opportunity amidst challenges; standardization is key

Pre-cooked meals: A trillion-dollar market opportunity amidst challenges; standardization is keyWith the Lunar New Year approaching, pre-cooked meals have once again become a market focus, their convenience making them a new favorite on the New Year's Eve dinner table. From classic dishes like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and pig stomach chicken to everyday favorites like sauerkraut fish, pre-cooked meals bring traditional delicacies to thousands of households with ease, perfectly aligning with the fast-paced lifestyles of modern people

Pre-cooked meals: A trillion-dollar market opportunity amidst challenges; standardization is key

With the Lunar New Year approaching, pre-cooked meals have once again become a market focus, their convenience making them a new favorite on the New Year's Eve dinner table. From classic dishes like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and pig stomach chicken to everyday favorites like sauerkraut fish, pre-cooked meals bring traditional delicacies to thousands of households with ease, perfectly aligning with the fast-paced lifestyles of modern people. In recent years, the pre-cooked meal industry has rapidly risen due to its convenience and speed, with market size expanding at an annual rate exceeding 20%. It is projected to surpass one trillion yuan (approximately $140 billion USD) by 2026. This booming trend has attracted the attention of numerous companies. Data from Tianyancha Professional Edition shows that as of now, China has over 68,000 pre-cooked meal related enterprises, with nearly 11,000 newly registered companies in 2024, demonstrating strong growth momentum.

However, the rapid development of the pre-cooked meal industry has also brought numerous challenges, particularly in food safety and standardization. Some companies have management loopholes in raw material procurement, processing, transportation, and storage, increasing food safety risks. To protect consumer rights and maintain market order, the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and other relevant departments are actively promoting the improvement of the pre-cooked meal standard system and strengthening food safety supervision. In March 2024, the SAMR and other relevant departments jointly issued the "Notice on Strengthening Food Safety Supervision of Pre-cooked Meals and Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Industry," which implements strict supervision of food additives in the pre-cooked meal industry, requiring companies to strictly follow laws, regulations, and standards in production to ensure product safety.

The release of this notice signifies the high level of attention the national government pays to the development of the pre-cooked meal industry. To further regulate the pre-cooked meal market, a series of national and industry standards are being formulated and implemented, including standards for terminology and classification of pre-cooked meals, and cold chain transportation and distribution management regulations. The formulation and implementation of these standards not only improve the quality and safety of pre-cooked meal products but also provide strong support for the industry's transformation, upgrading, and improvement of efficiency.

It is noteworthy that the SAMR recently responded to suggestions from representatives and committee members regarding the establishment of a unified standard system for the pre-cooked meal industry. The SAMR stated that it is actively improving the pre-cooked meal standard system. The National Health Commission has included the "National Food Safety Standard for Pre-cooked Meals" in its food safety national standard project plan and has established a special working group to steadily advance the standard development work. Simultaneously, the SAMR (National Standardization Administration) is organizing the development of "Terminology and Classification of Pre-cooked Meals" to clearly define relevant terms and categories.

These measures demonstrate that the government is actively using standardization to regulate the pre-cooked meal market and ensure product quality and food safety. Industry insiders generally believe that scientific and authoritative standards are key to ensuring the quality of pre-cooked meals. A unified standard system will effectively reduce market chaos, increase consumer confidence in pre-cooked meals, and drive the industry towards higher quality development.

In the future, the development of the pre-cooked meal industry will rely more on technological innovation, brand building, and market expansion. In terms of technology, companies need to continuously improve production processes and product formulas to meet consumers' higher demands for taste, nutrition, and convenience. In terms of brand building, companies need to establish their brand image, increase product recognition and reputation, and enhance consumer trust and loyalty. In terms of market expansion, companies need to actively explore new market channels, expand product sales, and improve market share.

Tianyancha Research Institute believes that the booming consumption of pre-cooked meals during the Lunar New Year fully demonstrates the huge potential and market vitality of the pre-cooked meal industry. Although the industry still faces many challenges and problems, with increased government policy support, the improvement of the industry's standard system, and the efforts of enterprises in technological innovation, brand building, and market expansion, the pre-cooked meal industry will overcome challenges and steadily advance on the path of high-quality development. The trillion-dollar market opportunity for pre-cooked meals will gradually emerge with the advancement of standardization, and its future prospects are promising.

The rapid development of the pre-cooked meal industry is inseparable from technological innovation. In the future, pre-cooked meal companies need to increase R&D investment and achieve breakthroughs in preservation technology, processing technology, and product innovation. For example, by using advanced technologies such as freeze-drying and ultra-high pressure, the shelf life of pre-cooked meals can be extended, ensuring their taste and nutrition; by developing more new products that meet consumer needs, different consumer preferences can be satisfied. At the same time, companies also need to strengthen supply chain management to ensure the quality and safety of raw materials and guarantee product quality from the source.

Market promotion is also an important aspect of driving the development of the pre-cooked meal industry. Companies need to strengthen brand building, improve product awareness and reputation, and make consumers more aware of pre-cooked meals, reducing consumer concerns about food safety and nutritional value. By combining online and offline channels, products can be promoted through multiple channels to expand market coverage.

Furthermore, the healthy development of the pre-cooked meal industry also depends on the joint efforts of the whole society. Consumers need to consume rationally, pay attention to product quality and food safety information, choose legitimate channels to purchase pre-cooked meal products, and actively provide feedback and suggestions. Regulatory departments need to further improve regulatory mechanisms, increase law enforcement efforts, severely crack down on illegal and regulatory violations, and maintain a fair competitive order in the pre-cooked meal market.

In conclusion, the pre-cooked meal industry is in a period of rapid development, with broad prospects. At the same time, food safety and standardization are crucial. Through government regulation, corporate efforts, and consumer participation, we can jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of the pre-cooked meal industry and ultimately achieve the ambitious goal of a trillion-dollar market. This requires continuous effort and a high degree of emphasis on food safety and standardization. The future of the pre-cooked meal industry will be determined by its ability to effectively address challenges and continuously improve product quality and safety.

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