Germany's booming ready-meal market hits €5.9 billion despite stable cooking habits

Germany's ready-meal industry has seen strong growth over the past five years. Production volumes and values have climbed sharply, with some meal types outperforming others. At the same time, time spent on cooking remains steady, though differences persist between genders.

In 2024, Germany produced 1.7 million tons of ready meals, worth €5.9 billion. This marked a 25.6% increase in volume and a 45.4% rise in value since 2019. The first three quarters of 2025 alone saw sales reach €4.5 billion, up 2.8% from the same period in 2024.

Meat-based meals led the growth, with production volumes rising 43.2% and values jumping 71.3% over five years. Vegetable-based options also expanded, growing 7.2% by weight and 54.3% in value. Pasta dishes saw the biggest surge, with volumes up 56.4% and values increasing 48.9%. Fish dishes, however, fell 7.2% in volume but still rose 7.9% in value.

Germany's trade in ready meals has shifted too. Exports climbed 12% to around 250,000 tons between 2021 and 2025, with the Netherlands, France and Italy as key buyers. Imports grew 8% to 180,000 tons, mostly from Belgium, Poland and the USA.

Despite industry changes, meal preparation habits have stayed much the same. Germans aged 10 and older spend about 41 minutes daily on cooking-related tasks, almost unchanged from a decade ago. In 2022, women and girls averaged 53 minutes a day, while men and boys spent 29 minutes.

The ready-meal sector continues to expand, with meat, vegetable and pasta dishes driving growth. Trade figures show rising exports and imports, reflecting demand both at home and abroad. Meanwhile, time spent cooking remains stable, though gender gaps persist in kitchen workloads.