Asian flavours can open new doors for convenience retail
Asian-inspired cuisine has firmly moved into the Canadian mainstream, driven by shifting demographics and growing curiosity among consumers eager to explore global flavours.
According to “Technomic Ignite, Total Canada, Q3 2025,” Asian cuisine now appears on 61% of Canadian restaurant menus. Chinese (31%) and Japanese (24%) cuisines are the most widely represented, with Japanese cuisine ranking among the fastest-growing categories, posting 2.3% growth over five years.
“We’re also seeing increased interest in flavours like gochujang and sweet chili, especially among younger consumers who gravitate toward globally inspired foods,” said Caroline Nadeau, VP and general manager of Conagra Brands Canada, citing the “Conagra Brands Future of Snacking 2025 Report.”
Why it matters for convenience stores
Meanwhile, affordability is reshaping how Canadians approach meals. A recent report from Restaurants Canada shows three in four Canadians are eating out less because of the high cost of living. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, that number rises to 81%.
At the same time, frustration with tipping culture is growing. A March 2025 survey by H&R Block Canada found that 94% of respondents feel tipping has “gotten out of hand,” while 90% say gratuities are too high.
“Dining out is roughly four times more expensive than eating at home, which is driving many Canadians to recreate restaurant-inspired dishes in their own kitchens,” said Nadeau.
As a result, more shoppers are looking for convenient ways to prepare globally inspired meals without spending restaurant-level dollars—or investing hours in the kitchen.
Making global flavours more accessible
Ready-made sauces and frozen entrees are helping lower the barriers to cooking Asian-style meals at home by simplifying preparation and reducing the need for specialty ingredients.
“Perceived complexity, such as sourcing special ingredients, mastering unfamiliar techniques, and managing longer preparation times, have historically been barriers to cooking global flavours at home,” said Nadeau. “Ready-to-use sauces and frozen solutions directly remove that friction by delivering bold, authentic flavours with minimal preparation and clean-up, making it easier for time-strapped consumers to explore Asian cuisines.”
Asian-inspired offerings, such as Conagra’s VH Sauces and P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Sauces and Frozen Meals, also align naturally with broader food trends, she pointed out. Fried rice and stir-fried noodles make it easy to incorporate vegetables and offer flexibility across protein choices (i.e., chicken, shrimp, tofu), allowing Canadians to adapt meals to their dietary preferences.
In practical terms, these products allow shoppers to prepare familiar favourites—such as stir-fries, noodle bowls, and rice dishes—using widely available, easy-to-assemble ingredients.
A growing role for convenience retail
While grocery remains the primary channel for global meal solutions, convenience stores are beginning to play a larger role as some expand their fresh and prepared food offerings.
“Within the convenience channel, products that align with quick meal missions tend to perform best,” said Nadeau. “While grocery stores are the main channel today (for these products), we’re seeing interest grow as more convenience stores expand their meal-solution offerings.”
Products that support fast, flexible meal preparation—paired with staples such as instant rice, frozen vegetables, or ready-to-cook proteins—are especially well-suited to the channel’s grab-and-go environment.
For operators, these items can help position stores as viable destinations for weeknight dinner solutions, not just snacks and beverages.
READ: Canadians looking for more global flavours when it comes to food
Merchandising opportunities
Merchandising plays a key role in helping shoppers visualize how global flavours fit into everyday meals.
“Convenience stores have a meaningful opportunity to help customers discover easy global flavour meal ideas. Creating secondary displays or placing Asian meal solutions near key traffic areas can make Asian-inspired options feel more visible and intuitive,” said Nadeau. Cross-merchandising sauces with quick-prep items like noodles, rice or vegetables also helps show how easily a complete meal comes together.”
Seasonal moments can also help spark interest and trial. Lunar New Year February 17 among opportunities for retailers to showcase Asian products for consumers cooking at home.
“There are also opportunities to lean into moments Canadians are already excited about. Lunar New Year is a great celebration to inspire simple, globally inspired meals. Themed displays, recipe inspiration, or loyalty promotions tied to the season can help customers feel more confident trying something new and flavourful.”
From urban centres to nationwide adoption
While early adoption has been strongest in major cities, Asian-inspired meals are increasingly becoming everyday staples across the country.
“Urban centres with high newcomer populations, such as Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, tend to adopt new Asian flavours earlier and with greater variety,” said Nadeau. “However, we’re now seeing strong penetration nationwide as Asian dishes like fried rice, stir-fried noodles and protein bowls become everyday household staples.”
As consumers shift spending away from restaurants and toward at-home dining, demand for affordable and easy-to-prepare global meals is expected to continue growing. “As more Canadians swap restaurant meals for at-home dishes, convenience stores that highlight the value and simplicity of these products will be well-positioned to meet consumers’ evolving expectations,” Nadeau said.
