Marlow Foods, which makes the Quorn range of vegetarian ready meals, says that up to 45% of the UK population are reducing their meat intake a trend that will grow. "It will be important to offer consumers a variety of products that meet these specific needs," says the company. In the UK, vegetarian ready meals account for 10% of the ready meal market by value [Datamonitor 2002].

Findus, Bonduelle and Orient Express are just a few of the companies that offer variations on the emerging trend of complete frozen meal solutions that can be thrown straight from the packet into the wok.

Oriental Express mixes the exotic with traditional for its latest launch of Spring Roll & Chips which marks a new format for the company. The meal for one comes in a block-bottomed pack that can be merchandised in upright or well freezers.

Country Choice reckons the trend that has surfaced in the multiples towards a hot food to go offering will increasingly need to be offered by smaller stores. For retailers with a bakery it says adding meals in the evening, such as Chicken Tikka or Chilli con Carne, is the next step, and it has a package to minimise preparation time.

The Co-op has introduced Braille to its ready meals packaging as it says that a high number of blind or partially sighted people rely heavily on ready meals.

Sharwood's says its new Chinese Rice Bowls will appeal to consumers with no time to wash up. The Heat n' Eat' from the bowl formats (microwaveable in 10 minutes) include the old favourites Sweet and Sour Chicken and Chicken and Mushroom.

Uncle Ben's Rice Bowls are frozen ready meals that can be cooked in eight minutes and mark the first time the company has offered a total frozen meal solution.

Leapingsalmon, the upmarket meal kit company, is continuing to open spaces on rail station concourses, with Charing Cross and London Bridge coming soon. It has also added single meals to the menu (from £6.95).

{{FOCUS ON }}