News
Frozen food remains a hot commodity as pandemic endures
6 Jan 2021Frozen food sales continue to outpace the growth of all food items in the grocery store, according to data from IRI and the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA). Total sales of frozen products rose 17.4% from November 2019 to November 2020, with the largest gains of more than 27% posted by the processed poultry, seafood, snacks and beverage categories.
Overall food sales rose 9.3% during the same timeframe while sales of fresh products gained a comparatively conservative 7.8%. Remarkably, sales of frozen meat except for poultry and seafood were down 10% in November even though the category posted a 21.5% growth in dollar sales.

These data indicate that pricing strategies for frozen products have evolved with the growing demand for these center aisle options. A survey done in the spring by the American Frozen Food Institute found that sales within frozen food jumped 70% between March and April, and the demand has waned little since then. Propelled by the popularity of these products, retailers inflated their pricing strategy for in-demand offerings, resulting in the large gap between recorded volume sales and the corresponding dollar sales.
As cases of coronavirus rose in December following a decline during the summer months, the number of people consuming meals at home continued to be high. In a September report released prior to the most recent spike, by sales and marketing agency Acosta, 55% of consumers are eating at home more frequently since the pandemic began.
To assist with daily meal prep, frozen food has become an indispensable addition to many family freezers due to its convenience as well as the fact that it is often an economical choice for shoppers looking to stretch their incomes further. The growth in sales is also helped along by the fact that long-held associations with frozen products being less healthy and tasty are thawing.
Major frozen food producers like Nestlé, Conagra Brands and B&G Foods have spent the last several years investing heavily in making over their frozen food lines into appealing offerings that resonate with modern consumers that are looking for clean labels and healthy ingredients. The result of these efforts is evident in the gains posted by companies across the spectrum that are selling frozen products.
While long term these gains may not stay in the double digits, the growth garnered today may have lasting effects such as establishing frozen food as a vital addition to a healthy portfolio for food and beverage companies that are looking to recuperate following the difficulties caused by the pandemic.
Related news

Additives in US food products up 10% since 2001
18 Jul 2023
New research revealed that 60% of foods purchased by Americans contained technical food additives as of 2019, which was a 10% increase since 2001.
Read more
Industry first: The Netherlands approves cultivated meat and seafood tastings
17 Jul 2023
The Netherlands has become the first country in Europe to approve tastings of cultivated meat and seafood in controlled environments, yet there is still a long way to go before widescale commercialisation is achieved.
Read more
One-fifth of Brazilian whey protein products mislabelled
12 Jul 2023
One fifth of whey protein products sold in Brazil are mislabelled, according to one small survey, as the Latin American trade association ALANUR calls on authorities to act against brands that inappropriately advertise the nutritional attributes of the...
Read more
New Nordic nutrition guidelines emphasise plant-based eating
11 Jul 2023
Nordic scientists and experts are now recommending that people should consume less meat and more plants for both their health and the health of the planet.
Read more
Manufacturers await groundbreaking aspartame safety review
10 Jul 2023
The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is preparing to release its findings on whether the sweetener aspartame is a possible carcinogen.
Read more
Food sector pushes unhealthy choices on consumers, new report shows
7 Jul 2023
Regulators and retailers must take action to prevent European consumers from being led to make unhealthy food choices, experts say.
Read more
How to revive stagnating plant-based meat sales
6 Jul 2023
Sales of plant-based meat are stagnating, products are being withdrawn, and brands are declaring bankruptcy – but Rabobank’s RaboResearch has identified five strategies that could help revive the category, and precision fermentation could be an NPD gam...
Read more
UK consumer trust in supermarkets falls to nine-year-low
5 Jul 2023
Research by UK consumer review organisation, Which?, reports decreasing levels of trust in the food industry, with two-thirds of shoppers feeling ripped off.
Read more
UK retailers flout unhealthy product regulation
4 Jul 2023
UK retailers are continuing to promote unhealthy products that are high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) despite recent regulation that bans such practices.
Read more
Are Dutch supermarkets committed to human rights?
3 Jul 2023
Dutch supermarkets lack widespread measures to respect human rights in supply chains, research project Superlist Social's inaugural report finds.
Read more