Consumption of Ready-Made Meals – Will Young Households Change Dietary Trends? Evidence from Poland

Purpose: The aim of the study was to identify differences in the consumption of ready-made meals across selected household age classes in Poland between 2015 and 2023. The analysis focused on three dimensions: the share of households purchasing ready-made meals, the average real level of household expenditure on this category of food, and the share of these expenditures in total food expenditure. Expenditure levels were examined for all households, separately by age class, and restricted to households that actually purchased ready-made meals. Incorporating the COVID-19 pandemic period made it possible to assess and compare the effects of this crisis on ready-made meal consumption across the analyzed household age classes. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study was based on unpublished microdata from the Household Budget Surveys (HBS) conducted by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in Warsaw, Poland, covering the years 2015–2023. Each annual survey included a representative sample of approximately 30,000 households. Household age classes were distinguished according to the age of the household head (reference person). Findings: The results indicate a continuous and substantial increase in the share of Polish households purchasing ready-made meals over the analyzed period. At the beginning of the study period, every second household reported purchasing ready-made meals. The highest share of consumers was observed among the youngest household age class (up to 30 years), at 65%, while the lowest share occurred in the oldest age class (over 70 years), at 42%. Although in most age classes the increase in interest in ready-made meals exceeded 20 percentage points, this threshold was not reached in the youngest and oldest classes. By 2023, nearly three-quarters of Polish households were purchasing ready-made meals. The youngest households continued to show the strongest interest (over 84%), while the oldest showed the weakest (just under 60%). The findings suggest that young households play a particularly important role in the diffusion of ready-made meal consumption and may contribute to lasting changes in dietary patterns in the future, whereas adoption in older age classes is slower and more conservative. Practical Implications: Understanding the food consumption behavior of young households is particularly important for shaping future consumption patterns. The growing interest in ready-made meals among younger generations may signal lasting changes in dietary models and in the structure of food demand. The results may be useful for both food producers and distributors, enabling them to tailor product offerings, pricing strategies, and marketing communication to the differentiated needs of younger and older households. Originality/Value: The analysis of consumption behavior based on household microdata by age class contributes to a better understanding of consumption changes observed at higher levels of data aggregation, namely at the national level. It also enhances insight into the mechanisms through which demographic changes affect consumption patterns.