Grocery stores are replacing restaurants with ready-to-eat meals

Caught between busy schedules and rising restaurant prices, US shoppers are turning to grocery stores that sell freshly prepared meals. The trend traces back to offerings like the Whole Foods hot bar and now appears across many chains. Walmart US CEO David Guggina said the chain's ready-to-eat meals, such as rotisserie chicken with two sides, can feed a family of four for under $10.

Retailers argue these options help customers stretch their budgets while allowing them to stock up on groceries during the same trip. A McKinsey report lists the shift from restaurants to grocery-prepared meals as a major force reshaping the industry. Roughly one-quarter of consumers report buying grocery-prepared foods instead of ordering from restaurants, most often replacing quick-service and fast-casual occasions, and the change is particularly pronounced among 18- to 29-year-olds.

United States

grocery stores, prepared meals, ready-to-eat, whole foods, walmart, rotisserie chicken, mckinsey, quick-service, fast-casual, young adults