COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Unilever Group maintains lead with stronghold in dry soup category
The Unilever Group remained the player in South Africa’s meals and soups category in 2025, supported by its dominant position in dry soup, which is a staple ingredient in local home cooking. Despite growing time pressures on consumers, home-prepared meals continue to be the most cost-effective way to feed families, particularly in lower- to middle-income households.
Private label strengthens position with innovative product developments
Private label emerged as the most dynamic player in South Africa’s meals and soups category in 2025, particularly within prepared foods. All major grocery retailers have developed extensive ready meal portfolios, closely tracking global trends to meet evolving consumer expectations.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Meals and Soups industry in South Africa 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 Meals and Soups industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Meals and Soups in South Africa 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 Meals and Soups in South Africa?
- Which are the leading brands in Meals and Soups in South Africa?
- How are products distributed in Meals and Soups in South Africa?
- 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 Meals and Soups?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in South Africa?
- 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?
Meals and Soups in South Africa - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Private label products appeal with wide range and promotional deals
Consumers are enticed by quick and affordable meals and soups
Frozen pizza entices budget-conscious shoppers
Convenience factor will drive sales as lifestyles evolve
Health and nutritional benefits will feature widely in new products
New food labelling regulations could pose challenges
Unilever Group maintains lead with stronghold in dry soup category
Private label strengthens position with innovative product developments
Supermarkets garner strong position with affordable and health-conscious meal solutions
Cooking Ingredients and Meals in South Africa - Industry Overview
Rise in home cooking boosts demand
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health and convenience trends provide growth stimulus
Price hikes and evolving cooking habits impact edible oils
High cost of living weighs on purchasing decisions driving value choices
Prevalence of home cooking will nurture category performance
Brands to seek new ways to create value as price competition becomes unsustainable
Strong growth potential ahead for retail e-commerce
Tiger Consumer Brands Ltd holds a slim lead in fragmented landscape
Unilever South Africa (Pty) Ltd is a well-established player with familiar brands
Supermarkets take a decisive lead
Small local grocers still play a crucial role
On-demand delivery services support development of retail e-commerce
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Meals and Soups
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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
Meals and Soups
This is the aggregation of ready meals, pizza, food kits, prepared salads, and soup. Includes: These are products that have had recipe 'skills' added to them by the manufacturer, resulting in a high degree of readiness, completion and convenience. Food kits is an exception where typically the extent of preparation is much shorter than other meal products; includes meal kits where consumers are to put together pre-portioned ingredients and cook with the guidance of recipe cards. Ready meals are generally accepted to be complete meals that require few or no extra ingredients. However, in the case of shelf stable ready meals, the term also encompasses meal 'centres’; for food kits, they do require a degree of cooking and preparation. As such, some meals may require cooking (ready-to-cook); others may simply need reheating, prior to serving (ready-to-eat). Excludes: Any products sold unpackaged and/or by weight, including food sold from a retail deli counter.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Meals and Soups research and analysis database.
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