Factors Influencing Students to Consume Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Meals Cases of UiTM Terengganu

The development of Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Malaysia is gaining popularity. Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods refer to food items that have limited or no additional cooking or preparation by customers. RTE foods are available in various types of foods and forms of packaging that make these products popular, especially among university students. These meals are commonly found in supermarkets, mini markets or convenience stores and offer quick and hassle-free options. This study examined factors influencing university students to consume Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals. A total of 361 UiTM Terengganu students are involved as respondents. This study utilised quantitative methodology by distributing online questionnaires. The data were then interpreted using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Interestingly, findings indicated that convenience, time-saving, packaging and family background influenced respondents to consume RTE meals with family background scored as the influential factor. Suggestions for future research were given to enhance RTE meal development further.