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Consumers cut back due to inflationary pressures
In 2025, value sales of cooking ingredients and meals in Japan are rising, driven by higher unit prices amid a weak yen, costly imports and global supply disruptions. While demand for convenience remains strong, overall volume is declining as consumers cut back under inflationary pressure and population decline limits growth potential. Domestic manufacturers such as Kewpie, Ajinomoto and House Foods continue to lead the landscape, leveraging strong local portfolios and brand trust despite widespread trading down to private label. Shifts in dietary habits including reduced rice consumption and greater use of noodles, pasta and flour-based meals are reshaping demand for complementary ingredients. Looking ahead, sustained price inflation and structural changes in Japan’s food culture will keep innovation focused on affordability, adaptability and the diversification of meal formats and flavour profiles.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Cooking Ingredients and Meals industry in Japan with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Cooking Ingredients and Meals industry in Japan, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Japan report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Japan?
- Which are the leading brands in Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Japan?
- How are products distributed in Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Japan?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Cooking Ingredients and Meals?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Japan?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Cooking Ingredients and Meals in Japan
Consumers cut back due to inflationary pressures
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Unit price hikes push value sales in 2025
Convenience demand intensifies, shaping innovation
Surging costs in rice result in consumer shift towards alternatives, impacting preferences in ingredients
Continued shift away from rice and towards alternative staples
Anticipated rising demand for ingredients suited to pasta and flour-based meals
Domestic players dominate a highly fragmented landscape
Leading companies maintain stronghold through rapid response to evolving demand
Convenience stores sees expansion as hybrid work models gain ground
Drugstores invest in broadening offer while e-commerce rises slowly
Table 1 Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 2 Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 3 Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 NBO Company Shares of Cooking Ingredients and Meals: % Value 2021-2025
Table 6 LBN Brand Shares of Cooking Ingredients and Meals: % Value 2022-2025
Table 7 Penetration of Private Label by Category: % Value 2020-2025
Table 8 Distribution of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 9 Forecast Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 10 Forecast Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 11 Forecast Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 12 Forecast Sales of Cooking Ingredients and Meals by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Summary 1 Research Sources
Edible Oils in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Other edible oil outperforms thanks to price advantage
Other edible oil outperforms thanks to price advantage
Olive oil struggles due to price hikes
Olive oil slump to persist amid high price sensitivity
Healthy oils to remain consumer favourites
Packaging innovation and recycling drive new appeal
Nisshin Oillio continues to lead edible oils in Japan
Flavoured oils expand in response to increasingly sophisticated demand
Shifting dynamics in Japan's edible oil retail landscape: the rise of drugstores
Retail e-commerce rises fastest but remains minor channel in edible oils
Table 13 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 14 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 15 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 16 Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 17 NBO Company Shares of Edible Oils: % Value 2021-2025
Table 18 LBN Brand Shares of Edible Oils: % Value 2022-2025
Table 19 Distribution of Edible Oils by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 20 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 21 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Sales of Edible Oils by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Meals and Soups in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Meals and soups boosted by demand for convenient options and innovation
Rapid price rise supports value sales growth for meals and soups
Price hikes in rice impact demand in meals and soups
Manufacturers and retailers will continue to invest in frozen ready meals
High-protein foods to gain ground
Brand collaborations and subcultures support sales momentum
Convenience store giants fuel growth
Players focus on value offers amid rising prices
Supermarkets and convenience stores lead distribution in meals and soups
Frozen bento delivery model faces intensifying competition
Table 24 Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 25 Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 26 Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 27 Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 28 Sales of Chilled Ready Meals by Ethnicity: % Value 2020-2025
Table 29 Sales of Frozen Ready Meals by Ethnicity: % Value 2020-2025
Table 30 Sales of Soup by Leading Flavours: Rankings 2020-2025
Table 31 NBO Company Shares of Meals and Soups: % Value 2021-2025
Table 32 LBN Brand Shares of Meals and Soups: % Value 2022-2025
Table 33 Distribution of Meals and Soups by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 34 Forecast Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 35 Forecast Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 36 Forecast Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 37 Forecast Sales of Meals and Soups by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Sauces, Dips and Condiments in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Population decline and inflation hinder volume sales
Rapid price increase and population decline leads to falls in volume sales in 2025
Dips leads value growth in 2025
Ready meal competition grows as Japan’s population shrinks
Low-salt products to see strong consumer demand
Big players are launching vegan and vegetable friendly products
House Foods leads. while Kewpie Mayonnaise celebrates 100 years in 2025
Offline retail distribution dominance persists
While e-commerce expands, consumers continue to prefer store-based outlets
Table 38 Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 39 Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 40 Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 41 Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 42 Sales of Liquid Recipe Sauces by Type: % Value 2020-2025
Table 43 Sales of Other Sauces and Condiments by Type: Rankings 2020-2025
Table 44 NBO Company Shares of Sauces, Dips and Condiments: % Value 2021-2025
Table 45 LBN Brand Shares of Sauces, Dips and Condiments: % Value 2022-2025
Table 46 Distribution of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 47 Forecast Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 48 Forecast Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 49 Forecast Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 50 Forecast Sales of Sauces, Dips and Condiments by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Sweet Spreads in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Currency fluctuations push up import prices
Sharp price surge hits imported goods against weak yen
Honey leads growth and jam sees further price rises
Innovative flavours continue to gain traction
Products with no added sugar reshape jam in Japan
Demand for convenience and ‘time performance’
Pastries rivalry intensifies amid market shifts
Players invest in innovation as competition heats up
Japanese shoppers stick to store-based retail for sweet spreads
E-commerce rises but growth remains limited
Table 51 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 52 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 53 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 54 Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 55 Sales of Jams and Preserves by Leading Flavours: Rankings 2020-2025
Table 56 NBO Company Shares of Sweet Spreads: % Value 2021-2025
Table 57 LBN Brand Shares of Sweet Spreads: % Value 2022-2025
Table 58 Distribution of Sweet Spreads by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 59 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 60 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 61 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 62 Forecast Sales of Sweet Spreads by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Cooking Ingredients and Meals
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- Olive Oil
- Corn Oil
- Palm Oil
- Rapeseed Oil
- Soy Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Other Edible Oil
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- Dried Ready Meals
- Shelf Stable Ready Meals
- Chilled Ready Meals
- Frozen Ready Meals
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- Dry Soup
- Shelf Stable Soup
- Chilled Soup
- Frozen Soup
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- Chilled Pizza
- Frozen Pizza
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- Meal Kits
- Quick Recipe Kits
- Chilled Lunch Kits
- Prepared Salads
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- Liquid Stocks and Fonds
- Stock Cubes and Powders
- Gravy Cubes, Powders and Pots
- Monosodium Glutamate
- Herbs and Spices
- Tomato Pastes and Purées
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- Liquid Recipe Sauces (excl pasta sauces)
- Dry Recipe Sauces
- Pasta Sauces
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- Barbecue Sauces
- Fish Sauces
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Oyster Sauces
- Salad Dressings
- Soy Sauces
- Chili Sauces
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- Dips
- Yeast-based Spreads
- Pickled Products
- Other Sauces and Condiments
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- Honey
- Chocolate Spreads
- Jams and Preserves
- Nut and Seed Based Spreads
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This report originates from Passport, our Cooking Ingredients and Meals research and analysis database.
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