Middle East & Africa Instant Food Market Outlook, 2028

The Middle East and Africa have witnessed significant urbanisation in recent years. Urban areas are characterized by busy lifestyles, longer working hours, and an increased demand for quick and convenient food options. Instant food products cater to the needs of urban dwellers that have limited time for cooking and prefer ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare meals. Furthermore, as lifestyles become more fast-paced and hectic, there is a growing preference for convenience and time-saving solutions. Instant food provides a convenient and hassle-free option for individuals and families who may not have the time or culinary skills to prepare elaborate meals from scratch. Moreover, the increase in the number of working individuals, particularly women, has led to a higher demand for quick and easy meal solutions. With less time available for cooking, working professionals often turn to instant food products as a convenient way to meet their dietary needs. In addition, Street food plays a significant role in Middle Eastern and African food cultures. While it is not considered instant food in the traditional sense, street food vendors often provide quick and ready-to-eat options. Foods like shawarma, falafel, samosas, and grilled meats are popular street food choices that provide a fast and flavorful meal. Furthermore, the Middle East and Africa attract a significant number of tourists each year. The hospitality industry, including hotels, resorts, and restaurants, often incorporates instant food products as part of their menu offerings. This contributes to the demand for instant food in the region.

According to the research report “Middle East & Africa Instant Food Market Outlook, 2028, The market is projected to reach market size USD 15.91 Billion by 2028. There is an increasing demand for healthier instant food options in the Middle East and Africa. Consumers are more conscious of their dietary choices and seek instant food products that are made from natural ingredients, contain fewer additives, and offer nutritional benefits. Manufacturers are responding by introducing organic, gluten-free, low-sodium, and plant-based alternatives to cater to these preferences. Furthermore, Middle Eastern and African consumers have a strong affinity for their traditional cuisines and flavours. As a result, there is a rising trend in the market for instant food products that showcase regional and ethnic flavours. Manufacturers are incorporating local spices, herbs, and traditional ingredients to offer instant food options that retain the authentic taste of the region. Moreover, the demand for plant-based and vegan food options is on the rise globally, including in the Middle East and Africa. This trend has extended to the instant food market, with an increasing number of plant-based and vegan instant food products being introduced. These products cater to the growing population of consumers who follow plant-based diets or are seeking alternatives to animal-based ingredients. In addition, Halal certification is an essential consideration in the Middle East and Africa, where a significant portion of the population follows Islamic dietary laws. Manufacturers of instant food products are increasingly obtaining halal certifications for their offerings to cater to the Muslim consumer base. This ensures compliance with halal standards and increases consumer trust in the products.

South Africa has a well-developed food industry compared to many other countries in the region. The country has a robust food processing sector, which includes the production of instant food products. The presence of established manufacturers and infrastructure in South Africa gives it a competitive edge in the instant food market. Furthermore, South Africa has experienced significant urbanisation and changing lifestyles over the years. Urban areas are characterized by busy lifestyles and an increasing demand for convenience. Instant food products offer a convenient solution for individuals and families who have limited time for cooking but still want to enjoy a quick and easy meal. Moreover, disposable income levels in South Africa have been rising steadily, leading to increased consumer spending power. As a result, consumers are willing to spend on convenient and time-saving food options, including instant food products. The growth of the middle class in the country has contributed to the expansion of the instant food market. In addition, instant food products in the UAE often incorporate Middle Eastern flavours and ingredients, catering to local tastes and preferences. This includes the use of spices such as saffron, cardamom, and sumac, as well as traditional ingredients like dates and nuts.

Instant-ready meals often have a long shelf life thanks to advanced packaging technologies and food preservation methods. This makes them suitable for consumers who want to stock up on meals for emergencies, travel, or times when fresh food options may not be readily available. The longer shelf life also reduces food waste, which is an important consideration for consumers and the environment. Furthermore, The Middle East and Africa attract a significant number of tourists and business travelers. Instant-ready meals are popular among travelers as they provide a quick and convenient option for meals during their trips. Hotels, airports, and travel outlets often stock ready-to-eat meals to cater to the needs of these travelers. In addition, The Middle East and Africa have a significant population of millennials and Generation Z consumers who are highly influenced by global snack culture. These younger demographics seek unique, innovative, and globally inspired snack options. They are willing to experiment with new flavours and formats, driving demand for a wide range of snack products. Furthermore, Snacks are often associated with socializing, gatherings, and cultural events in the Middle East and Africa. Snacks play a significant role during festivals, celebrations, and social occasions, where they are shared among family and friends. The cultural emphasis on hospitality and offering food to guests also contributes to the demand for snacks.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are major retail outlets that offer a wide range of instant food products. These establishments provide a one-stop shopping experience for consumers, where they can find instant food products from various brands and categories. Some prominent supermarket and hypermarket chains in the Middle East and Africa region include Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys, Choithrams, Geant Hypermarket, HyperPanda, and more. In addition, the online retail channel has gained significant popularity in recent years, providing consumers with the convenience of purchasing instant food products from the comfort of their homes. Online platforms and e-commerce websites offer a wide range of instant food products, allowing consumers to browse and choose from various brands and categories. Some prominent online stores catering to the Middle East and Africa region include Noon, Carrefouruae, Amazon, Jumia, Souq, and Talabat. Furthermore, department stores and convenience stores are smaller retail establishments that cater to consumers' immediate needs and offer a selection of instant food products. These stores are typically located in residential areas or commercial centres, providing convenience to consumers who prefer quick shopping. Some notable departmental and convenience store chains in the Middle East and Africa region include Al Maya Supermarkets, Zoom, DayToDay, Quick Save, Baqala, and Mini Mart.

Frozen Instant Food includes instant food products that are packaged and sold in a frozen state. These products are typically prepared by freezing the food at a very low temperature, which helps preserve its freshness, flavor, and nutritional value. Frozen instant food products are popular among consumers who prefer convenience and a longer shelf life. Some examples of frozen instant food products include frozen ready meals, frozen pizzas, frozen vegetables, and frozen desserts. In addition, normal Instant Food includes instant food products that are packaged and sold at ambient temperature or under normal packaging conditions. These products are usually shelf-stable and do not require freezing or refrigeration for preservation. Normal instant food products are convenient and can be quickly prepared by adding water or heating them in a microwave. They are widely consumed by busy individuals, students, and people looking for quick meal options. Examples of normal instant food products include instant noodles, instant soups, instant rice, and instant beverages like coffee and tea. For instance, some well-known brands in the Middle East and Africa region that offer instant food products in both the frozen and normal segments include Nestlé, Unilever, Al Kabeer, Halwani Bros, Indomie, Shan Foods, and more.

Major Companies present in the market:

The Kellogg Company, Nestlé S.A., General Mills, Inc., The Kraft Heinz Company, McCain Foods Limited, Calbee, Inc, Dr. Oetker , Ebro Foods, S.A., Barilla Group, JBS S.A, Agthia Group PJSC .

Considered in this report

• Geography: Middle East & Africa
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Countries covered in the report:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

Aspects covered in this report

• Middle East & Africa Instant Food market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product

• Breakfast Cereal
• Instant Noodles & pasta
• Snacks
• instant ready Meal
• Desserts
• others

By Packaging

• Normal
• Frozen

By Distribution Channel

• Supermarket/Hypermarket
• Departmental/Convenience Store
• Online Store
• Others (Specialty Stores)

The approach of the report:

This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to ready to Instant Food industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.