The Prepared Meal Manufacturing industry has made the most of counter-cyclical demand for its products over the past five years, with the recession leading to consumers eating fewer meals at restaurants, boosting demand for cheap ready meals from retailers. The industry will continue to benefit from trends towards smaller households, less time spent cooking and families having fewer meals together, which prompt consumers to opt for timesaving and convenient food products over fresh ingredients and IBISWorld expects industry revenue to grow marginally over the next five years through 2017-18.