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FROZEN FOODS
THE FROZEN EXPLOSION
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Frozen fare is hot stuff thanks to category innovation, convenience and affordability By Jessica Huras
Consumers are feeling anything but icy about frozen foods, with market research company IRI reporting sales grew 9.9% year-over-year in 2021. Frozen food innovation is also on the rise as shoppers seek products offering higher-quality ingredients and better-for-you benefits without compromising on the easy preparation and budget-friendly prices the category has long been known for. According to Ransom Hawley, CEO of market research company Caddle, the consumer stockpiling that dramatically drove up frozen food sales in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, continued to fuel growth in the category in 2021. “What we’re seeing is that people are still maintaining a safety stock of items and continuing to cook things that they learned to cook throughout the pandemic,” he explains. A 2021 report from Caddle shows younger consumers are the driving force
February 2022 || CANADIAN GROCER
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