John West expands ready-meal category with high-protein Stir & Serve pouches

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John West has launched a new range of microwaveable tuna pouches designed to provide a quick, high-protein solution for evening meals.

The Stir & Serve range has rolled out across the UK and Ireland, targeting consumers seeking convenient alternatives for midweek dining. The two-serving pouches contain MSC-certified skipjack tuna in four sauces: Tomato & Basil, Soy, Ginger & Honey, Spicy Mexican and Mild Curry.

Ready in two minutes, each 300g pouch contains up to 46g of protein and is designed to be served with a range of carbohydrates, allowing consumers to use the product as a base for different meal occasions.

The launch comes as the UK ready-meal market continues to expand. According to NielsenIQ data cited by John West, the category is now worth £766 million, having grown 10% in the 52 weeks to 13 June 2026. More than half of UK adults purchase ready meals annually.

John West said the new range responds to growing demand for convenient products that also offer quality nutritional credentials. Stir & Serve contains no artificial colours, flavours or additives, while each portion contains fewer than 300 calories.

The new pouches are also fully recyclable, addressing a key challenge associated with conventional flexible pouch formats, which are not typically accepted through standard household recycling streams.

Ben Ford, managing director of John West Foods, said: “Let's face it, we've all had those nights where you get in from work, can't be bothered to cook and end up having the same old thing again – or splash out on a takeaway as the easy option.

“That's what our Stir & Serve is all about – a proper shortcut to tasty dinners that doesn't feel like you've cut corners. Packed with protein and full of flavour, getting tea on the table is a whole lot easier.”

The brand is supporting the launch with a dinnertime campaign developed with Notorious media agency, spanning video-on-demand, digital and influencer activity during the second half of 2026.

Stir & Serve is available in the UK at Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado, and in Ireland through Tesco, Dunnes and SuperValu. The range has a recommended retail price of £3.79 per 300g pouch.