Premium convenience food is on a strong upward trajectory, with heat-and-eat expected to grow steadily during 2026, according to British bake brand The Original Baker.
The company expects 2026 trends to include expanded offerings across all meal occasions and hybrid formats that combine minimal preparation with ready-to-eat convenience. Sustainability remains a priority, with a focus on eco-friendly packaging, waste reduction, and travel-friendly options. Consumers are also seeking clear evidence of provenance and craftsmanship.
“Consumers no longer see convenience as a compromise,” said a spokesperson for The Original Baker. “They want speed, but they also want authenticity, proper ingredients and a product that still feels freshly made. Heat-and-eat delivers on all three.”
The Original Baker is not the only player in the sector to be betting on premium heat-and-eat. Supermarkets have steadily expanded their premium ready‑to‑eat ranges in recent years, with brands like Charlie Bigham’s gaining wider distribution as consumers increasingly seek higher‑quality, restaurant‑style meals at home – Charlie Bingham’s most recent financial figures show revenue grew 8.8% in 2023-2024. Meal kit brand HelloFresh has expanded its Factor range of premium RTE meals into Germany, after successfully launching them in USA and Canada. “It took us seven years to grow meal kits into a €1 billion business line and only about three years to scale Factor from €100 million revenue run rate to over €1 billion annual revenue run rate,” HelloFresh CEO Dominik Richter told analysts in 2023.
Why it’s worth betting on premium RTE
The UK heat-and-eat sector is currently valued at £4.74 billion, with a volume growth of 1.6% in 2026, according to Statistica – but looking further ahead to 3035, the UK RTE market is expected to grow much more quickly, at a CAGR of 11.4%. This rapid long-term growth is the result of shifting expectations around RTE ranges; consumers have shown that they are prepared to pay for premium products that meet their values around quality, health and sustainability, and RTE manufacturers and retailers have risen to the challenge, helping reshape a sector formerly seen as low-quality and mass-produced into something very different.
This presents a strong opportunity for retailers. Whether it’s breakfast bakes or afternoon snacks and evening meal solutions, the category supports multiple occasions and encourages repeat purchasing.
As brands elevate quality, sustainability and craft, and consumers reward that shift with repeat purchases, the category is heating up fast. From breakfast to dinner, the opportunity is clear: convenience food’s next wave won’t just be quick – it’ll be worth savouring.
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