Ready-made meals maker Youfoodz says Nestle's $US1.5 billion ($2.1 billion) acquisition of US-based chilled meals start-up Freshly highlights the growth potential of the sector as time-poor consumers demand more convenience.

Nestle revealed on Friday it had acquired Freshly for $US1.5 billion – $US950 million upfront plus performance-based earnouts of up to $US550 million – so it could test the burgeoning ready-made meals market.