Canned & Ambient Foods: Global Trends and Growth Opportunities for 2025
, by My Store Admin, 3 min reading time
Discover the latest trends in canned and ambient foods for 2025, including the rise of premium brands, scratch cooking at home, and innovative new products.
At UF International, we are proud to supply high-quality food and drink products to partners across the globe. One of the fastest-evolving categories we export is canned and ambient food. Our June 2025 report reveals key trends shaping this market, with exciting opportunities for wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice professionals alike.
Scratch Cooking Fuels Demand for Quality Ingredients
As more consumers experiment with scratch cooking at home, there’s a growing appetite for trusted brands and premium ingredients. Whether it's recreating restaurant-style meals or trying international recipes, shoppers are becoming more adventurous in the kitchen.
55% of parents say they regularly use prepared ingredients.
Yet, those without children are more likely to cook from scratch without a recipe (53%).
This shows the importance of offering a versatile range that supports both time-pressed families and creative home cooks.
Market Growth: Premium Brands Lead the Way
Despite a slight decline in unit sales, the total value of canned and ambient food rose 0.8% to nearly £2.9 billion, largely driven by increased prices. Consumers are trading up from own-label products to branded alternatives, showing a desire for small luxuries in challenging economic times — a phenomenon often referred to as the “lipstick effect.”
📈 Branded performance highlights:
Branded sales up 2% (units down just 0.4%)
Own label sales down 0.3% in value and 3.3% in units
Brands now hold 50.3% share of category value
Notably, Italian brands like Cook Italia and Mutti are winning market share by positioning their tomato products and purées as premium staples for home cooking.
Top Performers in the Canned Segment
In the past year, only three of the top 10 canned brands saw unit growth — Mutti, Napolina, and Princes. Italy’s Mutti was the standout performer:
Value up 53.2%
Unit sales up 44.1%
This surge followed the brand’s 2024 launch of a UK subsidiary focused on premiumising the tinned tomato market. The rest of the top 10 faced pressure from increased competition, pricing strategies, and range reductions by retailers.
Ambient Soup: A Mixed Bag of Results
The ambient soup category experienced modest value growth of 0.3%, though volumes declined by 5.4%. Still, some brands achieved standout growth:
Itsu +86.6%
Crosse & Blackwell +24.4%
Batchelors +4.1%
Meanwhile, Heinz dipped -3.6%
These shifts reflect consumer interest in healthier, convenient, and more diverse flavour options.
New Product Highlights for 2025
🌱 Mr Organic Beans & Pulses
Launched in February 2025, this new range features four organic legumes cooked in Italy and packed in 350g jars. Prepared by in-house Chef Giovanni — affectionately known as "Mr Bean" — each variant is:
100% Organic
High in Protein
A Source of Fibre
These products are perfect for consumers looking to enhance meals with nutritious, ready-to-use ingredients.
🥗 The Gym Kitchen
Designed for busy, health-conscious shoppers, The Gym Kitchen offers protein-rich meals that are ready in under 5 minutes. Each pot contains:
25g of protein
Less than 300 kcal
Available hot or cold
Perfect for retailers seeking on-the-go options for fitness-focused consumers.
Why This Matters for Our Global Partners
As wholesale exporters, UF International helps businesses stay ahead of market trends. The rising demand for premium canned and ambient foods, nutritious ready-meals, and international flavours signals strong global growth potential.
We offer an extensive range of leading brands and innovative new products — all backed by our global distribution expertise and commitment to quality.
👉 Get in touch with UF International today to learn more about sourcing, branding, or custom exporting solutions in the canned and ambient category.