Ready-to-Eat Meals Surge in Spain: Are Kitchens Becoming Obsolete?

In Spain, the consumption of ready-to-eat meals has skyrocketed in recent years, with a remarkable 48% increase observed in the past two years. This trend is evident in major supermarket chains such as Mercadona, which has significantly expanded its ready-to-eat offerings across 80% of its 1200 stores. This expansion reflects a broader societal shift towards convenience and time-saving measures in food preparation. Juan Roig, the CEO of Mercadona, boldly predicted that kitchens might become obsolete within the next 25 years, a statement now supported by the growing demand for ready-to-eat meals. The increasing availability of diverse and high-quality ready-to-eat options in supermarkets like Mercadona suggests that this trend is likely to continue.