By the year 2025, the frozen food industry is expected to reach an overall market value of nearly $205 billion. As the value of this industry grows, understanding the ins and outs of frozen foods is becoming increasingly lucrative for companies. With market knowledge at your disposal, you can fill any frozen food merchandising unit with success.
Consumer data is crucial for understanding the frozen food market. These consumer trends give you insight into who is buying frozen food and which foods are in the highest demand.
Here's everything you need to know about some of the most important frozen food trends!
Who's Buying Frozen Food?
The frozen food market is clearly making a major comeback.
Knowing exactly who's reaching into your frozen food merchandising unit and why will help you understand where to target your marketing, decide what types of messaging to use, and boost your sales and profits along the way.
Parents of Young Kids
According to FoodNavigator, parents with children between the ages of seven and 12 are a major buying group of frozen food products.
With young, growing children, parents are constantly challenged to put healthy and hearty meals on the table several times per day. Quite frankly, many families lack the time and money to consistently buy fresh foods and prepare elaborate home-cooked meals.
As a result, they open up the frozen food merchandising unit and grab a meal. The convenience it offers is second to none.
Millennials
As a general population, millennials — both with and without kids — are huge consumers of frozen foods… and they're only buying more. In fact, a 2017 study showed that 43% of millennials had purchased more frozen food in the current year than they had the previous year.
Millennials may, in part, be opting for frozen foods because of how easy it is to walk into the grocery store and come out with a frozen pre-prepped meal or two. But many also recognize the financial benefits of buying frozen foods.
A frozen meal for 4 will often cost less than $15 — a hard deal to pass up.
Which Foods Are Most Popular?
For years, frozen food was seen simply as a not-so-healthy backup option. Today, the landscape within the frozen food merchandising unit is changing.
While their convenience has not been forgotten, other benefits are beginning to take center stage. Perks like longer shelf lives, bulk buying options, and sustainability all contribute to choosing frozen over fresh.
Ready-to-Eat Meals
Ready-to-eat meals are perhaps the most popular frozen product. Frozen food merchandising units everywhere are brimming with wide selections of premade entrees.
Any food you can think of probably either has been or can be frozen.
With delicious options for one, as well as hearty meals for the whole family, frozen feasts are hard to pass up.
Frozen Fruits & Vegetables
Frozen fruits and vegetables are likely two of the most popular options in any frozen food merchandising unit.
Since they can normally be bought in bulk, they're perfect for every recipe from a refreshing smoothie to a delectable dessert. Additionally, their long shelf life means they can be safely stored for months and regularly bought throughout the year — even when they're out of season.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are a convenient and nutritious way to spice up any meal.
Sides & Snacks
Frozen sides and snacks have become incredibly popular quick-and-easy staples in many modern kitchens.
If you're having an afternoon craving, you can effortlessly microwave a few pizza rolls or a corndog. If your evening cuisine is in need of a carbohydrate, frozen brown rice or quinoa can quickly be prepared the same way.
Whether you're looking for a satisfying snack or a scrumptious side, frozen is the way to go.
Breakfast Foods
The most important meal of the day is also one of the most skipped. In fact, a 2011 study conducted by The NPD Group revealed that more than 31 million Americans pass up breakfast each morning. As schedules get tighter, this number has likely increased and will probably continue to do so.
Luckily, frozen breakfast foods present a unique solution to overcome the rushed obstacle to morning nutrition.
From breakfast sandwiches to waffles, you have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to breakfast food. Not only are frozen breakfast options cheap and convenient, but they can also be nutritious.
Filling Your Frozen Food Merchandising Unit
Frozen food is no doubt making a dramatic comeback. The real question is how will you keep up with these trends?
Knowing who is buying frozen food and what kinds of frozen products they prefer are vital and will tell you how to fill your frozen food merchandising unit with products that fly off the shelves.
Interested in learning more about frozen foods and commercial cooling? Contact us!
