Co-op launches Ozempic-friendly ready meals in UK convenience first

Rolling out in stores from 7 January, the new mini-meal line sits within Co-op’s wider “Good Fuel – Power Up Your Plate” health proposition and has been developed for shoppers with smaller appetites, Grocery Gazette reports.

Priced at £3.50, Co-op’s four 250g meals are portion-controlled and designed to be high in protein and fibre, while delivering at least two portions of fruit or vegetables.

The range includes Chicken & Sweet Potato Penang Curry, Chicken & Courgette Alfredo Pasta and a vegetarian Butternut Squash, Beans & Grains option. Co-op members can buy any two for £5.50 during the launch period.

The new launch follows the convenience retailer citing data showing around 3% of the UK population now uses weight loss medication, such as Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro.

Alongside the GLP-1 friendly range, Co-op is also expanding its “holistically healthy” ready meal offer with five larger-format dishes focused on high protein, slow-release carbohydrates and added-benefit ingredients.

These include Piri Piri Chicken with Rice and Naked Katsu Chicken, priced at £4.25, with a two-for-£6 member deal running until 22 January.

Co-op retail trading director Nicole Tallant said shoppers were increasingly looking for “healthy and tasty choices”.

“Our members and customers are changing the way they approach health, looking for healthy and tasty choices that provide a boost of health benefits like protein and fibre, with meals that count towards their five-a-day as well as delivering plenty of flavour,” Tallant added.

“There is also a growing need to cater for smaller appetites with meals that provide the quality without so much of the quantity.  This whole new range is aimed at supporting shoppers’ wellbeing in a meaningful, accessible and convenient way.