4 Chilled foods Table 1.3 Different categories of chilled food product introductions in the UK market Total Vegetarian 116332 Childrens 13938% 2920 3616 3365 The drive towards more convenience foods, such as ready meals, has reflected the decline in traditional home-prepared meals and the associated skills. Convenience is a specific need of the cash-rich time-poor consumer. This development is in part the result of the increase in the number of working women, single-parent and single-person households with limited time available for home cooking. Government estimates suggest that there are over 12 million women in full or part-time work in the UK, representing 45% of the total workforce. Also in the Uk, demographic trends show particular growth in numbers of older children and their parents. It is these families in particular, with children at school and with a greater degree of independence, where there is most scope for women to undertake part- or full-time work. It is also in these families in particular that members have developed more independent and flexible patterns of eating. Such patterns have also been stimulated by the increase in microwave ownership and the dramatic rise in the availability of microwaveable foods, especially chilled foods(see Table 1.3). This can be seen in the increase in'snacking, eating more frequent small meals at varying times in the day. Research in 1998 suggested that 31% of UK housewives snacked between meals(Anon. 1998a). The trend towards snacking is also reflected the decline of the single family evening meal, and the shift towards differing members of the family eating at different times. This development has also prompted consumers to look for a range of light, easy to use ingredients such as cheese spreads or salads, for example, which can be used to prepare a variety of quick snacks or meals tailored to the requirements and preferences of individual family members. Recent research also shows that the total lunch box occasions (i.e. prepared and packed lunch) have grown steadily over the past seven years, up by 21%, with sandwiches featuring in 81% of these Children are estimated to consume 675 million sandwiches in the UK or 7% of total consumption(Anon 1999b) A survey of 25,000 adults in the UK in 1997 found that 17% of all those surveyed and 22% of women in the survey were concerned about counting calories in their diet, whilst over half of all respondents claimed to have reduced fat intake in their diet. In the Us, surveys also suggest that consumers areThe drive towards more convenience foods, such as ready meals, has reflected the decline in traditional home-prepared meals and the associated skills. Convenience is a specific need of the cash-rich time-poor consumer. This development is in part the result of the increase in the number of working women, single-parent and single-person households with limited time available for home cooking. Government estimates suggest that there are over 12 million women in full or part-time work in the UK, representing 45% of the total workforce. Also in the UK, demographic trends show particular growth in numbers of older children and their parents. It is these families in particular, with children at school and with a greater degree of independence, where there is most scope for women to undertake part- or full-time work. It is also in these families in particular that members have developed more independent and flexible patterns of eating. Such patterns have also been stimulated by the increase in microwave ownership and the dramatic rise in the availability of microwaveable foods, especially chilled foods (see Table I.3). This can be seen in the increase in ‘snacking’, eating more frequent small meals at varying times in the day. Research in 1998 suggested that 31% of UK housewives snacked between meals (Anon. 1998a). The trend towards snacking is also reflected in the decline of the single family evening meal, and the shift towards differing members of the family eating at different times. This development has also prompted consumers to look for a range of light, easy to use ingredients such as cheese spreads or salads, for example, which can be used to prepare a variety of quick snacks or meals tailored to the requirements and preferences of individual family members. Recent research also shows that the total lunch box occasions (i.e. prepared and packed lunch) have grown steadily over the past seven years, up by 21%, with sandwiches featuring in 81% of these. Children are estimated to consume 675 million sandwiches in the UK or 7% of total consumption (Anon. 1999b). A survey of 25,000 adults in the UK in 1997 found that 17% of all those surveyed and 22% of women in the survey were concerned about counting calories in their diet, whilst over half of all respondents claimed to have reduced fat intake in their diet. In the US, surveys also suggest that consumers are Table I.3 Different categories of chilled food product introductions in the UK market￾place 1997 1998 1999 Total % Total % Total % Microwaveable 586 20% 818 23% 763 23% Healthy eating 296 10% 485 13% 526 16% Vegetarian 790 27% 1163 32% 1143 34% Organic 7 0% 78 2% 177 5% Childrens 90 3% 139 38% 128 4% Total 2920 3616 3365 4 Chilled foods