A new report from research specialist Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md., called "Prepared Foods and Ready-to-Eat Foods at Retail," indicates that sales of ready-to-eat and prepared food items will reach nearly $32.5 billion this year, up 7.5% from 2011.
While sales continue to rise, supermarkets gain the majority of prepared foods purchase visits at 60%, followed by Walmart and convenience stores (15% and 12%, respectively). Packaged Facts also reports that the surge in sales is due largely to the accessibility to a wide range of household incomes.