The demand for frozen foods is increasing due to factors such as rising trends in obesity, growing consumption of packaged foods and snacks, and changing lifestyles. Rising awareness among the masses regarding the freshness of food and a rise in income level is further expected to positively impact the growth of the global frozen food market during the forecast period from 2021 to 2028. These factors will drive the demand for frozen food across all end-use industries during the forecast period. In addition, rising living standards in developing countries and adopting healthy diets will further augment the demand for frozen food during the forecast period.
Healthy Foods
People are becoming increasingly aware of healthy diets, which have spurred demand for frozen fruits, vegetables, seafood and other food items. For example, in recent years, low-fat desserts have become a common addition to households across North America. This has contributed to significant gains in sales of ice cream and similar products. In addition, a rise in consumer spending on fresh or healthy foods is also driving growth. Per capita meat consumption (at home) fell from 42kg to 38kg between 2007 and 2014; meanwhile, per capita, vegetable consumption increased from 91kg to 101kg, according to Euromonitor International data.
Packaging & Distribution
Packaging and distribution methods play a massive role in frozen food products' convenience, perishability, and aesthetics. Frozen meals and single-serve items are typically packaged with little air space to allow faster freezing, thus preserving flavour and quality. As such, packaging plays a crucial role in both formulating freshness factors and producing customer satisfaction. With that said, we want to look at how packaging changes will impact industry trends moving forward. Film technology has led to new formulations and innovations, including enhanced barrier properties, like anti-fog or oxygen scavenging capabilities; improved gloss; better stretch properties; expanded product scope. Recent developments have been made by manufacturers such as Dupont (DOW) with their new Perma Guard film material, which claims it can withstand temperatures up to minus 60 degrees Celsius.
Nutritional Benefits
The nutritional content of most frozen foods is comparable to fresh food. There are several reasons why consumers may prefer eating a portion of their nutrition from frozen sources. The nutritional content is partly maintained because freezing fresh foods slows down any deterioration that would naturally occur over time. Furthermore, fewer additives and preservatives are added to frozen food than in many other processed products. Consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables has been linked to a reduced risk of diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Frozen fruit and vegetables are even more beneficial in lowering these risks because they provide an affordable alternative with equivalent nutritional values when fresh produce is unavailable or out of season.
Rising Demand From Developing Countries
Growth in developing countries, especially the Asia Pacific and, the Middle East & Africa, is one of the primary drivers of the global frozen food market. Rising disposable income and increasing adoption of the western lifestyle are expected to propel growth in these regions. Globalization has led to increased imports from developed nations such as the US, Germany, and the UK into developing countries of Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa. The region has emerged as a hub for consumption due to low-cost manufacturing and raw materials. Rapid urbanization in emerging economies is also boosting the consumption of frozen food products such as meat & poultry products, seafood, fruits & vegetables etc., which further drives the global frozen food market growth.
