Japan Ready Meal Trays Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Portioned Trays and Perforated Trays), By Material (Polypropylene, CPET, Aluminium, and Others), By End Use (QSR and FSR, Transportation Catering Services, Institutional Catering Services, and Retail Sales), and Japan Ready Meal Trays Market Insights, Industry Trend, Forecasts to 2035

Japan Ready Meal Trays Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• The Japan Ready Meal Trays Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2025 to 2035
• The Japan Ready Meal Trays Market Size is Expected to Hold a Significant Share by 2035

According to a research report published by Spherical Insights & Consulting, the Japan Ready Meal Trays Market is Expected to Hold a Significant Share by 2035, at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period 2025-2035. The Japan ready meal trays market is growing due to rising demand for convenience and time-saving products, improved awareness of the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly packaging, and innovations in food packaging technology.

Market Overview

The Japan ready meal trays market refers to the containers that are intended to store pre-cooked food, allowing easy storage, heating, and eating. The trays are extensively used in domestic consumption, institutional catering, and foodservice industries. The market's strengths are Japan's leading packaging technologies and a robust food safety regulatory environment. There are opportunities for developing sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging solutions and launching plant-based and health-based meal solutions in response to changing consumer tastes. The market is propelled by urban living, hectic life, and the increasing trend for convenience foods. Further, the growth in single-family and dual-income households has boosted demand for convenience meals. Initiatives by the government to improve food safety norms and encourage innovation in food packaging further support market growth.

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the market for the Japan ready meal trays market based on various segments and regions and forecasts revenue growth and analyzes trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the Japan ready meal trays market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies such as expansion, product launch, and development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the Japan ready meal trays market.

Driving Factors

The Japan ready meal trays market is driven by rising urbanization, hectic lifestyles, and increasing single-person and dual-income households looking for easy meal options. Rising demand for convenient-to-eat foods, improvements in microwave-safe and green packaging, and stringent food safety protocols also drive market expansion. Also, the growth of retail and online food channels fuels the growing use of ready meal trays throughout Japan.

Restraining Factors

The Japan ready meal trays market is subject to constrained from increasing environmental factors regarding use-once-away plastics, regulatory forces on food safety and labeling, and increasing consumer health awareness. Competition from fresh meals and conventional home-cooked food also restricts growth.

Market Segmentation

The Japan ready meal trays market share is classified into type, material, and end use.

• The portioned trays segment held the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The Japan ready meal trays market is segmented by type into portioned trays and perforated trays. Among these, the portioned trays segment held the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to its convenience and portioning, appealing to the hectic lifestyle of consumers. The trays deliver preportioned servings, which saves time through removing the need for measuring and minimising food waste.

• The polypropylene segment held the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The Japan ready meal trays market is segmented by material into polypropylene, CPET, aluminium, and others. Among these, the polypropylene segment held the largest market share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is owing to its high heat resistance, strength, and good barrier properties against moisture and contaminants. Such trays are useful in providing efficient protection to pre-packaged meals, keeping food fresh and retaining the quality of food. The lightweight of polypropylene also helps in packaging and transportation at a low cost.

• The QSR and FSR segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The Japan ready meal trays market is segmented by end use into QSR and FSR, transportation catering services, institutional catering services, and retail sales. Among these, the QSR and FSR segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the busy lifestyle and evolving consumption patterns of consumers. QSRs tend to employ ready meal trays for their easy and effective packaging, enabling on-the-go consumption. FSRs, in turn, prefer the ready-meal trays to make presentation and portability easier for their dine-in and take-out products.

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the Japan ready meal trays market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

List of Key Companies

• Marumiya Corporation
• Toyo Suisan Kaisha, Ltd.
• Maruha Nichiro Corporation
• Nagatanien Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Kewpie Corporation
• TableMark Co., Ltd.
• Asahi Group Foods, Ltd.
• Nichirei Corporation
• Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd.
• Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
• Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Others

Recent Developments:

• In April 2022, HelloFresh SE ("HelloFresh") launched its formal service in Japan. Japanese consumers are now able to access a unique combination of convenient, time-efficient, and tasty home-cooked meals, specifically designed to meet the busy lives of single individuals.

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at Japan, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the Japan ready meal trays market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Japan Ready Meal Trays Market, By Type

• Portioned Trays
• Perforated Trays

Japan Ready Meal Trays Market, By Material

• Polypropylene
• CPET
• Aluminium
• Others

Japan Ready Meal Trays Market, By End Use

• QSR and FSR
• Transportation Catering Services
• Institutional Catering Services
• Retail Sales