Consumer demand for fresh foods has limited the growth of the frozen foods market in recent years, according to a new report called Frozen Foods in the U.S.: Hot Meals, Sides, and Snacks from market research firm Packaged Facts.
“Many consumers have come to believe that only fresh foods offer real nutritional value. These consumers perceive frozen dinners as a remnant of a past dining era in which these products were valued more for their convenience than their healthiness. Unfortunately, the fact that frozen foods can potentially offer the same nutritional value as fresh or refrigerated foods is simply lost on consumers holding this anti-frozen-foods viewpoint,” says David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts.
The report acknowledges that consumer desires for “natural” foods may also play a role; preservatives such as potassium sorbate, calcium propionate, and sodium tripolyphosphate are often added to frozen foods to preserve freshness, and these ingredients can be a detriment to sales, as can the high levels of salt found in low-calorie frozen meals. However, frozen products labeled as natural and/or organic have been received more positively. In addition, many retailers, including convenience stores and supercenters, are expanding their focus on fresh.
Packaged Facts estimates that aggregate sales of frozen dinners/entrées, pizzas, side dishes, and appetizers/snacks will increase from $22 billion in 2014 to $23 billion in 2019; frozen side dishes and appetizers/snacks are projected to grow the most.
