Frozen Food

Frozen sales maintain momentum

The return to eating out has seen the year-on-year value growth of the frozen food market slow to 1.2%, research shows.

Retail frozen food sales have grown by 13.5%, compared to pre-pandemic levels, The Frozen Food Report reveals.

The report, which brings together research from leading names including Kantar Worldpanel and IGD, shows that despite restaurants, cafes and pubs opening back up in April 2021 after more than 12 months of restrictions, frozen sales have maintained their momentum. The return to eating out has led to less frequent shops and smaller shopping baskets, which has seen the year-on-year value growth of the frozen food market slow to 1.2%.

BFFF Chief Executive, Richard Harrow, said: “After two years of disruption, the retail market is returning to pre-pandemic normal, but frozen has attracted over 400,000 more shoppers in the last two years. The retail frozen food market is now worth £7.1bn and has added nearly £850m worth of sales since 2019. That’s value growth of 13.5% and volume growth of 9.2%. With the total grocery market broadly flat, frozen sales have significantly outperformed the market.”

Kantar figures show that ice cream is the largest single category in frozen, worth £1.3bn to retailers and accounting for 18.6% of their overall frozen food sales, up from 17.3% in 2019. Frozen fish broke through the £1bn barrier in 2020 and 2021’s sales represent a 16.4% (£141.2m) gain in just two years.

Meanwhile, vegan and vegetarian products have achieved 16.8% growth since 2019, contributing to a £237.4m (19.8%) growth in sales of savoury foods in the same period.

Harrow added: “From developments in the texture and mouthfeel of meat alternatives to new recipes that make vegetables the star of the show, it’s no surprise that consumers with all kinds of dietary needs and preferences are adding these types of products to their baskets.”

● Copies of the Frozen Food Reportare available here.