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Annual Report 2025

IMCD Australia: Unlocking nation-wide chilled meal distribution - and new business opportunities

Showcase
Australia’s prepared meals industry is growing steadily, with the Prepared Meals Production segment reaching a market size of about AUD 1.9 billion in 2025, supported by strong consumer demand for convenience, clean label products and healthier options. The sector continues to grow at around 5 to 6 percent a year, creating clear opportunities for manufacturers, and partners like IMCD who can support them with the right ingredients, technical expertise and supply chain readiness.
In this context, a fast-growing chilled ready meals company in Australia set a clear goal. To expand nationwide, it needed to extend shelf life beyond the 19-day limit that was restricting distribution. At the same time, the business wanted a clean label solution that aligned with growing demand for “good for you” products.

IMCD Australia, working with a strategic principal in natural preservation, saw a strong fit between the customer’s ambition and the capabilities available. The project required technical depth, robust validation and a precise understanding of how natural preservatives interact with different food matrices.
What followed was a disciplined and science-led programme. The technical teams designed trial plans, prepared multiple prototype systems and supported microbiological testing to evaluate how each option performed across the customer’s varied meal components. The project grew in scope as early results showed potential, extending the work from two initial products to 18 different components across the full range.
"Technical excellence is about accuracy, robustness and consistency. IMCD Australia and our principal combined advanced modelling with practical formulation know-how to give the customer a clean label solution they could trust."
Sonia Lowe
Commercial Manager and Regional Principal Manager at IMCD Australia
The customer conducted more than 380 microbiological validation tests to assess performance, taste impact and stability. Predictive modelling was used to estimate potential shelf-life outcomes and guide next steps. IMCD and the principal worked closely together to interpret results, refine formulations and ensure that each adjustment was grounded in robust science.

The selected solution delivered a shelf-life improvement of more than 25 percent across the chilled meals range. This enabled national distribution, reduced waste and created a stronger commercial platform for future growth. The direct annual volume linked to this initial win is estimated at around 30 tonnes.

Sonia Lowe, Commercial Manager and Regional Principal Manager at IMCD Australia, reflects: "Our strong focus on building enduring partnerships at multiple levels and communicating the science behind the solutions underpinned the uptake of the proposed solution across the entire business. When you bring that level of clarity around the proposed solution and how it will impact the customers long-term business, you build partnership that last."

The project also generated wider momentum. Several companies supplying components into the same ready meals are now exploring natural preservation solutions with IMCD, representing an additional 8 to 12 tonnes per year and opening new opportunities beyond the original scope.
Commercial excellence
Upstream, suppliers rely on IMCD as a single point of contact into diverse markets. We simplify their go to market with coordinated inventory management, regulatory support and digital integration. Downstream, we help customers translate trends and technical requirements into finished formulations. We provide access to a broad product portfolio, local market knowledge and more than 80 laboratories worldwide where formulations are developed, tested and refined.

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