The packaged food industry is booming worldwide at an unprecedented, showing no signs of slowing down . What factors contribute to its growth, leading to people’s interest in these offerings?
1. An Appreciation for Sweet Treats
People’s love for candy and other sweets is a significant market driver. Many consumers pick up these treats as impulsive buys to reward themselves or others.Whether it is to reward themselves after a stressful week at work, for completing exams or to simply show gratitude to someone, treats are opted out as the primary choice for rewards for most people.
Confectionery products comprised the largest segment, shown in a report for January 2025 on the ultraprocessed global packaged food market. The data showed that the market value reached $452.30 billion in 2019 and has increased since then. Analysts indicated that today’s consumer packaged goods companies cater to consumers’ desire for convenience and satisfaction. While some buyers gravitate towards the familiar brands that shaped their childhoods, others get excited to see new offerings filling the shelves.
More broadly, research predicted that the ultraprocessed foods market would show a compound annual growth rate of 9% during the forecast period of 2025-2029. However, since the coverage also mentioned people’s increasing awareness of various health issues linked to processed foods, manufacturers and marketers may need to emphasize that treats can be healthy as well as delicious.
2. Desire for More Convenience
Frozen food sales jumped an incredible 94% in March 2020 during the early COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, most grocery shoppers bought foods with longer shelf lives, allowing them to leave their homes less often. Many consumers got in the habit of that convenient fare and realized they preferred spending less time in the kitchen to make the meals that provided their daily sustenance.
A 2025 study of Americans’ cooking habits revealed this trend’s prominence, highlighting how it contributes to the pre–packed food market’s growth. For example, one finding was that 60% of respondents want to spend less than a half-hour cooking their evening meals. Additionally, 74% of participants use microwave at least weekly, and 43% said they prefer quick, heat-and-eat meals.
3. Changes in Cooking Behavior
When you think back to the recipes your grandmother shared, most of them involved cooking from scratch. Generations ago, there were few other options. However, relying on processed foods makes more sense for most people with busy lifestyles.
In a 2024 global survey, one in five respondents said they chose the most convenient foods and beverages because they did not have time to cook. Though pre–packaged foods encompass more than those handy selections, this conclusion emphasizes that the industry must keep up with how people’s priorities have evolved.
The research also revealed that 32% of people cook from scratch to save money. However, a third of people still use some products from the packaged food industry in that approach.
Staying Abreast of the Global Packaged Food Market
While market forces show ongoing and increasing interest in processed foods, marketing directors, brand managers, and other industry professionals must continue identifying the sub trends catching people’s attention and influencing the reason they buy pre–packaged foods. Noticing those specifics will help you respond to consumer fluctuations and continue providing enticing products.
Concerned parties must also focus on regional specifics, cultural norms, and other aspects impacting the time people spend cooking and what they prioritize while shopping for food. Though studying global developments is useful, industry professionals must anticipate variations within smaller consumer segments. Market tests also use consumer feedback to verify whether people’s thoughts match CPG executives’ expectations, helping marketers decide if and when to launch products.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beth Rush, Managing Editor at Body + Mind
